Fruit protection cushioning material and fruit packaging

Abstract

This invention provides a fruit protection cushioning material that can individually protect fruits and improves ease of installation in containers through its simple structure. [Solution] The protective unit is made of a polyolefin resin foam sheet and comprises a plurality of protective units 10A, 10B that individually protect fruits. Each protective unit has a square-shaped bottom forming portion 11A, 11B and four side forming portions 13A1, 13A4, 13B1, 13B4 connected via first fold lines 12A1, 12A4, 12B1, 12B4. At least one pair of the side forming portions 13A4, 13B4 are connected to each other via a second fold line 15AB, and finger grip portions 16A, 16B are provided on the side forming portions that are connected to each other.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a cushioning material for protecting fruit, which is placed between the fruit and the container for the purpose of protecting the fruit stored in the container. More particularly, it relates to a cushioning material for protecting fruit that also serves as a partition to divide the inside of the container into multiple storage compartments, and to a fruit packaging body equipped with said cushioning material for protecting fruit. Furthermore, the term "fruit" in this invention is intended to include all kinds of fresh produce, and can be applied to agricultural products that are relatively susceptible to surface damage. [Background technology]

[0002] Fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, and grapes are transported, stored, and displayed in containers made of synthetic resin or cardboard boxes after harvesting. During this process, direct contact between fruits or between fruits and containers can cause scratches and dents on the fruit's surface, potentially reducing its market value. Fruits that are ripe have particularly soft skins and require careful handling.

[0003] Therefore, it has been common practice to protect the fruit by lining the container with cushioning material. Known cushioning materials for protecting fruit include sheet-like or plate-like underlays made of synthetic resin foam. Additionally, so-called "fruit caps," which are made of thin, string-like foamed resin arranged in a mesh or grid pattern, are widely used as a means of individually protecting fruit.

[0004] Furthermore, a partition-type underlay material has been proposed that forms multiple storage compartments by providing cutouts and folds in a single foamed resin sheet and making it stand up three-dimensionally inside a container. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cushioning material that has cutouts and multiple folds in an unfolded sheet, and by folding these upright, multiple storage compartments that partition the inside of a container can be formed.

[0005] Furthermore, tray-shaped cushioning materials are known in which multiple storage recesses are integrally formed by vacuum forming or press forming of a synthetic resin foam sheet, and these are used to prevent direct contact between fruits. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-91006 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, each of the conventional technologies described above had the following problems.

[0008] Firstly, cushioning materials that individually wrap fruits, such as the aforementioned fruit caps, require the installation process to be performed for each fruit, which poses a problem in terms of packaging efficiency due to the considerable effort and time involved.

[0009] Furthermore, using a simple flat foamed resin sheet as a base material is insufficient to prevent direct contact between fruits, requiring the use of additional partition materials, which leads to an increase in the number of components and complicates the work.

[0010] Furthermore, while the underlay material that doubles as a partition, as described in Patent Document 1, which is made by folding a sheet to form a divider, has the advantage of reducing bulk during storage, the assembly process, from raising each folded part from its unfolded state to forming a three-dimensional structure and then laying it in the container, is complicated, and there is room for improvement in terms of workability. In particular, fruit packaging often involves processing large quantities in a short time after harvest, and the ease of assembling the cushioning material and loading it into the container greatly affects the overall work efficiency of the packaging line. For this reason, in addition to fruit protection performance, there is a strong demand for a cushioning material structure that can be handled simply and quickly.

[0011] Furthermore, while tray-shaped cushioning materials formed by vacuum molding or similar methods can stably accommodate fruit, they are bulky and inconvenient to handle during storage and transportation.

[0012] This invention has been made in view of the various problems of the prior art described above, and aims to provide a cushioning material for protecting fruits that can individually protect fruits and improves the ease of laying it in a container due to its simple structure. Furthermore, this invention aims to provide a cushioning material for protecting fruits that can achieve a good balance of fruit protection performance, workability, storability, and ease of manufacture. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides the fruit protection cushioning material and fruit packaging described in [1] to

[12] below.

[0014] [1] A cushioning material for protecting fruit, which is interposed between the fruit and the container to protect the fruit, It is made of a polyolefin resin foam sheet and has multiple protective units that individually protect the fruit. Each of the aforementioned protective units A rectangular bottom-forming portion is laid on the bottom surface of the container, The base forming portion has four side forming portions that are connected to each of the four sides via a first folded line portion, At least one pair of the side forming portions are connected to each other via a second folded line portion at the end opposite to the bottom forming portion, The side-forming portions, which are connected to each other, are characterized by having finger rests. Cushioning material for protecting fruit. [2] The bottom forming portion has a cutout portion that allows the stored fruit to be visually confirmed. The fruit protection cushioning material described in [1] above. [3] The area of ​​the cut-out portion is 300 mm 2 1500mm or more 2 The following is: The fruit protection cushioning material described in [2] above. [4] The first folded portion has a straight cut, The ratio of the length of the cut to the total length of the first folded portion is greater than 80% and less than or equal to 98%. A cushioning material for protecting fruit, as described in any of the above [1] to [3]. [5] The second folded portion has a straight cut, The ratio of the length of the cut to the total length of the second folded portion is 90% or more and 98% or less. A cushioning material for protecting fruit, as described in any of the above [1] to [4]. [6] The finger rest consists of one of a through hole, a bottomed recess, and a pressing piece. A cushioning material for protecting fruit, as described in any of the above [1] to [5]. [7] In the finger rest portion, the opening width in the direction parallel to the second folding line portion is 10 mm or more and 30 mm or less. A cushioning material for protecting fruit, as described in any of the above [1] to [6]. [8] The polyolefin resin is a polyethylene resin. A cushioning material for protecting fruit, as described in any of the above [1] to [7]. [9] At each of the four corners of the protective unit, a substantially V-shaped gap is formed between the side edges of two adjacent side forming portions that straddle the corner of the bottom forming portion. The angle of the substantially V-shaped gap between the two side forming portions, where at least one of the two side forming portions is not connected to the side forming portion of the other protective unit via the second folded line portion, is 40 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less. A cushioning material for protecting fruit, as described in any of the above [1] to [8].

[10] At each of the four corners of the protective unit, the angle of the substantially V-shaped gap between the side forming portions, where both of the two side forming portions are connected to the side forming portion of another protective unit via the second folded line portion, is 85 degrees or more and 110 degrees or less. The fruit protection cushioning material described in [9] above.

[11] A fruit packaging body in which a fruit protection cushioning material described in any of [1] to

[10] above is laid inside the container.

[12] The container is a container in which at least the bottom wall is transparent. The fruit packaging described in

[11] above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The fruit protection cushioning material according to the present invention described above provides the following excellent effects.

[0016] First, according to the fruit protection cushioning material described in [1], since multiple protective units are integrally formed on a single polyolefin resin foam sheet, there is no need to attach them individually to each fruit as with conventional fruit caps, and fruit packaging can be carried out efficiently. Furthermore, each protective unit is composed of a bottom forming section and a side forming section, allowing for individual storage and protection of the fruit. This prevents direct contact between fruits or between fruits and the container, thereby suppressing deterioration of the fruit's quality. Furthermore, by connecting at least one pair of side-forming sections via a second fold line and providing a finger grip in that section, it becomes easier for the worker to grasp the sheet, facilitating folding and laying operations inside the container, and improving overall packaging workability. Moreover, because multiple protective units are integrally formed, the process of setting them inside the container can be completed in a shorter time compared to when multiple individual cushioning materials are placed.

[0017] Furthermore, with the fruit protection cushioning material described in [2], the cutouts provided in the bottom forming portion allow for easy external inspection of the fruit's appearance even after packaging, thereby improving product management and visibility at the time of sale.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the fruit protection cushioning material described in [3], by setting the area of ​​the cut-out portion to a predetermined range, it is possible to ensure the visibility of the fruit while suppressing a decrease in the strength of the bottom forming portion.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the fruit protection cushioning material described in [4] and [5], by setting the cut ratio at each fold line to a specific range, it is possible to fold it smoothly without becoming excessively weak, thereby improving ease of assembly and shape retention.

[0020] Furthermore, with the fruit protection cushioning material described in [6] and [7], by setting the shape and dimensions of the finger rests provided on the side forming portion to an appropriate range, it becomes easier for workers to grip them, making the assembly of the protective unit and the installation of the protective unit inside the container easier.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the fruit protection cushioning material described in [8], by using polyethylene resin as the polyolefin resin, better flexibility and cushioning properties can be ensured, making the contact with the fruit surface softer and further suppressing the deterioration of appearance quality.

[0022] Furthermore, with the fruit protection cushioning material described in [9] and

[10] , by appropriately setting the angle of the substantially V-shaped gap formed between the side forming parts at each of the four corners of the protective unit, the shape stability of each protective unit is improved, and protective units that conform to the taper of the container can be formed.

[0023] Furthermore, the fruit packaging described in

[11] allows for easy placement of cushioning material for protecting the fruit inside the container, and enables stable storage and protection of the fruit.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the fruit packaging described in

[12] , by using a container with at least a transparent bottom wall, it becomes easier to check the condition of the stored fruit from the outside through the cutout in the bottom forming part of the cushioning material, thereby improving convenience during distribution and sales. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0025] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing one embodiment of the fruit protection cushioning material according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cushioning material used to protect fruit. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the fruit protection cushioning material set in the container. [Figure 4]Figure 1 is a perspective view showing how multiple layers of the fruit protection cushioning material shown in Figure 1 are stacked and stored. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing a modified example of the finger-grip portion of the fruit-protecting cushioning material according to the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a plan view showing another embodiment of the fruit protection cushioning material according to the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the fruit protection cushioning material set in the container. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] The embodiments of the fruit protection cushioning material of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are provided for the purpose of specifically illustrating the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0027] The fruit protection cushioning material 1 according to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 is a sheet-like member made of a polyolefin resin foam sheet, and has two protective units 10 in the lateral direction. A ,10 B It has a configuration in which these are connected as a single unit.

[0028] As the polyolefin resin foam sheet mentioned above, a thermoplastic resin foam sheet based on a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene resin or polypropylene resin can be used. These can be used individually or in combination of two or more, but polyethylene resin is preferred from the viewpoint of excellent flexibility, impact resistance, and foaming properties. Examples of polyethylene resins include low-density polyethylene, ultra-low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, and ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer. By using polyethylene resins, the contact with the fruit surface can be softened, and a deterioration in appearance quality can be suppressed. From a similar viewpoint, low-density polyethylene is particularly preferred.

[0029] The above polyolefin resin foam sheet is preferably an extrusion foam sheet obtained by, for example, melt-kneading a base resin and a foaming agent and extruding this into a low-pressure region to foam it. As the foaming agent, inorganic physical foaming agents such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrocarbon-based foaming agents such as isobutane and normal butane, etc. can be used, and if necessary, by adding a cell regulator such as talc, silica, a mixture of sodium hydrogen carbonate and citric acid, etc., the cell diameter and cell structure can be adjusted.

[0030] The apparent density of the above polyolefin resin foam sheet is preferably 15 kg / m 3 or more and 100 kg / m 3 or less. By setting it within this range, while ensuring sufficient cushioning properties against fruits, it is possible to achieve good compatibility between the bending processability of the side surface forming portion and the shape retention of the protection unit. From the same viewpoint, the apparent density of the above polyolefin resin foam sheet is more preferably 18 kg / m 3 or more and 80 kg / m 3 or less, and even more preferably 20 kg / m 3 or more and 70 kg / m 3 or less.

[0031] Also, the thickness of the above polyolefin resin foam sheet is preferably 0.3 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less. By setting it within this range, it is possible to achieve compatibility between the supportability against the weight of the fruit and the bending processability of the side surface forming portion. From the same viewpoint, the thickness of the above polyolefin resin foam sheet is more preferably 0.5 mm or more and 4.5 mm or less, and even more preferably 0.7 mm or more and 4.0 mm or less.

[0032] Note that the thickness of the above polyolefin resin foam sheet can be obtained as an average value measured at a plurality of points on the cut surface of the foam sheet. The apparent density of the polyolefin resin foam sheet can be calculated by dividing the weight of a sample piece of a predetermined size by its volume.

[0033] Furthermore, the foamed sheet preferably has a closed-cell structure, which suppresses moisture penetration and makes contact with the fruit surface softer. In addition, by adding antistatic agents, lubricants, colorants, etc. as needed, workability and identification can be improved.

[0034] Each protective unit 10 is made of the polyolefin resin foam sheet described above. A ,10 B The square-shaped base forming part 11 A ,11 B and the bottom surface forming portion 11 A ,11 B The four sides of the first fold line portion 12 A1 ~12 A4 or 12 B1 ~12 B4 Four side forming portions 13 are connected via each other. A1 ~13 A4 or 13 B1 ~13 B4 It is composed of the following.

[0035] A straight cut can be made in the first fold line portion described above. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first fold line portion 12 A1 ~12 A4 , 12 B1 ~12 B4 It has a straight cut. With the configuration of the folded line portion having such a cut, the side forming portion 13 A1 ~13 A4 , 13 B1 ~13 B4It can be easily folded and made to stand upright, and shape retention after folding is also ensured. From the viewpoint of achieving a better balance between the workability when folding the side forming portion and the shape retention after folding, the ratio of the cut in the first fold line portion (ratio of the cut length to the total length of the fold line portion) is preferably 50% or more and 98% or less, more preferably 70% or more and 98% or less, and particularly preferably set in the range of over 80% and 98% or less. When the cut ratio is set to the particularly preferred range described above, stress concentration is generated in the fold line portion, making folding easier, stabilizing the shape after folding, and suppressing breakage of the fold line portion. The ratio of cuts in the aforementioned fold lines refers to the ratio of the total length of the cut portion to the total length of each fold line, and this ratio is calculated for each fold line.

[0036] The bottom surface forming portion 11 A ,11 B It includes a cutout section 14 for visually checking the condition of the stored fruit. A ,14 B It is preferable that each of these be provided. Furthermore, the area of ​​this cutout is 300 mm². 2 1500mm or more 2 It is preferable that the area be set within the following range. By setting the area of ​​the cut-out portion within the above range, it is possible to maintain the support function as a base while ensuring the visibility of the fruit. From the viewpoint of achieving a better balance between the visibility of the stored fruit and the support function as a base, the ratio of the area of ​​the cut-out portion to the area of ​​the base forming portion is preferably 5% to 30%, and more preferably 10% to 20%.

[0037] Two adjacent protective units 10 A ,10 B This is a set of side forming parts 13 A4 ,13 B4 Each of them, the bottom forming part 11 A ,11 B On the opposite end, there is a second folded line portion 15 ABThey are connected via a link. This allows multiple protective units to be integrally formed on a single sheet-like material, while each protective unit can be formed three-dimensionally by bending.

[0038] A linear cut can also be made in the second folded portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the second folded portion 15 AB It has a straight cut. With the configuration of the folded line portion having such a cut, adjacent protective unit 10 A ,10 B This facilitates folding in between, further improving assembly workability. From the viewpoint of achieving a better balance between workability during folding and shape retention after folding, the ratio of the cut in the second fold line (ratio of the cut length to the total length of the fold line) is preferably 60% to 98%, more preferably 80% to 98%, and particularly preferably set within the range of 90% to 98%. When the cut ratio is set within the particularly preferred range, stress concentration is generated in the fold line, making folding easier, stabilizing the shape after folding, and suppressing breakage of the fold line.

[0039] Also, the second folded line portion 15 AB Side forming portion 13 connected via A4 ,13 B4 Each of these has a finger rest 16 A ,16 B This finger rest portion 16 is formed. A ,16 B As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this may be a through hole, but it may also be configured as a bottomed recess as shown in Figure 5(a), or as a push-in piece as shown in Figure 5(b). These forms of finger rests are preferred because they are easy to form. The push-in piece, as shown in Figure 5(b), is a structure that is partitioned by a roughly circular cutout, with a part of it remaining as a connecting part, and is displaced inward by pressure from a finger to form a finger rest opening.

[0040] The above finger rest portion 16 A ,16B The second folded line portion 15 AB It is preferable that the opening width w in the direction parallel to the direction be 10 mm or more and 30 mm or less. With this configuration, it becomes easier for the worker to grip it with their fingers, and the sheet can be unfolded, folded, and laid inside the container smoothly. In addition, the side forming parts 13 that are connected to each other A4 ,13 B4 Because multiple protective units 10 can be simultaneously grasped and raised, A ,10 B It can efficiently form three-dimensional shapes.

[0041] Furthermore, each protective unit 10 A ,10 B At the four corners, the bottom surface forming portion 11 A ,11 B A roughly V-shaped gap 17 exists between the side edges of two adjacent side forming portions, with the corner in between. A1 ~17 A4 , 17 B1 ~17 B4 It is preferable that this is formed. The angles of these gaps are preferably set to acute angles of 40 degrees to 80 degrees. This allows each side forming portion to be moderately inclined outward, making the protective unit 10 easier to conform to the container 100 having a tapered inner wall that expands in diameter upward. A ,10 B This can be formed (see Figure 3). From the viewpoint of making it easier to conform to the inner wall of the container, the angle of the roughly V-shaped gap is more preferably 45 degrees or more, and even more preferably 50 degrees or more. In addition, there are two protective units 10 in the lateral direction. A ,10 B In this embodiment, where the units are arranged in series, each of the approximately V-shaped gaps 17 A1 ~17 A4 or 17 B1 ~17 B4 At least one of the two side forming portions is the second folded portion 15 AB These are formed between side forming portions that are not connected to the side forming portions of other protective units via a connecting element.

[0042] When in use, the cushioning material 1 for fruit protection in this embodiment, along each of the above-described first folding line portions 12 A1 ~12 A4 or 12 B1 ~12 B4 , and the second folding line portion 15 AB , the side surface forming portions 13 A1 ~13 A4 or 13 B1 ~13 B4 are bent and erected, so that each protection unit 10 A ,10 B is formed into a box shape having an opening upward. And in this state, as shown in FIG. 3, it is laid in the container 100, and the fruits 200 are respectively accommodated in each protection unit 10 A ,10 B . Thereby, direct contact between fruits and direct contact between the fruits and the container can be prevented. Also, even when there are variations in fruit dimensions, the fruits can be stably held

[0043] As the container 100, various known packaging containers for fruits formed of synthetic resin or the like can be used. For example, a synthetic resin container formed by thermoforming a resin sheet made of a thermoplastic resin such as polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, etc. by thermoforming means such as vacuum forming or pressure air forming can be used. Many such containers have a tapered inner wall that expands in diameter upward, and the cushioning material 1 for fruit protection in this embodiment described above is easy to follow such a container inner wall.

[0044] Also, when a container having at least a transparent bottom wall is used as the container 100, through the cutout portions 14 A ,11 B provided in the bottom surface forming portions 11 A ,14 B , it becomes a fruit packaging body in which the state of the externally packaged fruit 200 can be confirmed.

[0045] The cushioning material 1 for fruit protection in this embodiment can be stacked in a plurality in a state where the cushioning material 1 for fruit protection is unfolded as shown in FIG. 4 during handling such as storage and transportation until use, without requiring space and having good handling properties. Therefore, the storage space before transportation can be reduced, and the transportation efficiency to the packaging work site can be improved.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration including two protection units 10 A , 10 B has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, there are a total of four protection units 50 A , 50 B , 50 C , 50 D formed integrally in a matrix shape in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively.

[0047] Specifically, adjacent protection units 50 A , 50 B are connected to each other through side surface forming portions 53 A4 , 53 B4 , and protection units 50 C , 50 D are connected to each other through side surface forming portions 53 C4 , 53 D4 . Further, adjacent protection units 50 <00001--1>, 50 D are connected to each other through side surface forming portions 53​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​D3 ,53 B3 and 53 C3 These are the second folded portion 55 AB ,55 CD ,55 AD ,55 BC They are connected to each other via a single polyolefin resin foam sheet, and four protective units 50 A ,50 B ,50 C ,50 D It can be formed as a single unit.

[0049] Each protective unit 50 A ,50 B ,50 C ,50 D The protective unit 10 in the above embodiment A ,10 B Similarly, the square-shaped bottom forming portion 51 A ,51 B ,51 C ,51 D and the bottom surface forming portion 51 A ,51 B ,51 C ,51 D First fold line portion 52 on each side A1 ~52 A4 ,52 B1 ~52 B4 ,52 C1 ~52 C4 ,52 D1 ~52 D4 Four side-forming portions 53 are connected via each other. A1 ~53 A4 ,53 B1 ~53 B4 ,53 C1 ~53 C4 ,53 D1 ~53 D4 Each of them is equipped with one of these features.

[0050] Also, each bottom surface forming part 51 A ,51 B ,51 C ,51 D It includes a cutout section 54 that allows the condition of the stored fruit to be visually checked from the outside. A,54 B ,54 C ,54 D Each of these is formed. Furthermore, the second folded portion 55 AB ,55 CD ,55 AD ,55 BC Side forming portions 53 connected to each other via A4 and 53 B4 ,53 C4 and 53 D4 ,53 A3 and 53 D3 ,53 B3 and 53 C3 Each of them has a finger rest 56 AB and 56 BA ,56 CD and 56 DC ,56 AD and 56 DA ,56 BC and 56 CB A system is in place. This configuration allows the worker to raise multiple side forming sections simultaneously while placing their fingers on each finger rest, enabling efficient three-dimensional formation of the four protective units.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, each protective unit 50 A ,50 B ,50 C ,50 D At each of the four corners, there is a roughly V-shaped gap 57 between the side edges of adjacent side forming parts. A1 ~57 A4 ,57 B1 ~57 B4 ,57 C1 ~57 C4 ,57 D1 ~57 D4 It is formed. Of these, at least one side forming portion is not connected to the side forming portion of the other protective unit; this is the gap on the outer periphery, i.e., gap 57 A1 ,57 A2 ,57 A4 ,57 B1 ,57 B2 ,57 B4 ,57C1 ,57 C2 ,57 C4 ,57 D1 ,57 D2 ,57 D4 It is preferable to set the angle to an acute angle of 40 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less. This allows each side forming portion to be moderately inclined outward, and a protective unit that conforms to the tapered shape of the container 100 can be formed. On the other hand, there is an inner gap where the side forming portions of adjacent protective units are connected to each other, that is, a gap 57 formed between side forming portions where both of the two side forming portions are connected to the side forming portion of another protective unit via the second folded line portion. A3 ,57 B3 ,57 C3 ,57 D3 It is preferable to set the angle to between 85 and 110 degrees. This configuration allows for stable upright positioning of each protective unit while suppressing interference between the side forming parts in the central section.

[0052] The fruit protection cushioning material of this embodiment has, when in use, each first folded portion 52 A1 ~52 A4 ,52 B1 ~52 B4 ,52 C1 ~52 C4 ,52 D1 ~52 D4 and each second folded portion 55 AB ,55 CD ,55 AD ,55 BC Each side forming portion 53 A1 ~53 A4 ,53 B1 ~53 B4 ,53 C1 ~53 C4 ,53 D1 ~53 D4 By folding it, four protective units 50 A ,50 B ,50 C ,50 DThese can be simultaneously formed into a box shape. Then, in this state, as shown in Figure 7, they are laid inside the container 100, and the fruits 200 are placed inside each protective unit, thereby effectively preventing direct contact between the fruits and between the fruits and the container. In particular, multiple protective units 50 A ,50 B ,50 C ,50 D Because the components are integrated, positioning within the container 100 becomes easier, and a neatly arranged packaged state of the fruit 200 can be easily achieved.

[0053] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, four protective units 50 A ,50 B ,50 C ,50 D Since it is integrally formed into a single sheet-like member, the number of members can be reduced compared to when multiple individual members are arranged. Furthermore, multiple protective units 50 A ,50 B ,50 C ,50 D Since the two parts can be folded and set into the container 100 simultaneously, packaging workability and work efficiency can be further improved, and the displacement of the packaged fruit can be suppressed, thereby increasing stability during transportation.

[0054] In this invention, the number of protective units, their arrangement, the shape, dimensions, materials, connection methods, and folded line configuration of each part are not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of this invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0055] As described above, the fruit protection cushioning material of this invention can be suitably used as a cushioning material to be placed between a container and fruit when transporting, storing, and displaying fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, and grapes, as well as various other fruits and vegetables. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 1: Cushioning material for protecting fruit 10 A ,10 B : Protective unit 11 A ,11 B : Bottom forming part 12 A1 ,12 A2 ,12 A3 ,12 A4 ,12 B1 ,12 B2 ,12 B3 ,12 B4 : First fold line 13 A1 ,13 A2 ,13 A3 ,13 A4 ,13 B1 ,13 B2 ,13 B3 ,13 B4 : Side forming part 14 A ,14 B : Cut-out section 15 AB : Second fold line 16 A ,16 B : Finger rest 17 A1 ,17 A2 ,17 A3 ,17 A4 ,17 B1 ,17 B2 ,17 B3 ,17 B4 : A roughly V-shaped gap 50 A ,50 B ,50 C ,50 D : Protective unit 51 A ,51 B ,51 C ,51 D : Bottom forming part 52 A1 ,52 A2 ,52 A3 ,52 A4 ,52 B1 ,52 B2 ,52B3 ,52 B4 ,52 C1 ,52 C2 ,52 C3 ,52 C4 ,52 D1 ,52 D2 ,52 D3 ,52 D4 : First fold line 53 A1 ,53 A2 ,53 A3 ,53 A4 ,53 B1 ,53 B2 ,53 B3 ,53 B4 ,53 C1 ,53 C2 ,53 C3 ,53 C4 ,53 D1 ,53 D2 ,53 D3 ,53 D4 : Side forming part 54 A ,54 B ,54 C ,54 D : Cut-out section 55 AB ,55 CD ,55 AD ,55 BC : Second fold line 56 AB ,56 BA ,56 BC ,56 CB ,56 CD ,56 DC ,56 DA ,56 AD : Finger rest 57 A1 ,57 A2 ,57 A3 ,57 A4 ,57 B1 ,57 B2 ,57 B3 ,57 B4 ,57 C1 ,57 C2 ,57 C3 ,57 C4 ,57 D1 ,57 D2 ,57 D3,57 D4 : A roughly V-shaped gap 100 : Container 200: Fruit w: Width of the finger rest opening

Claims

1. A cushioning material for protecting fruit, which is interposed between the fruit and the container to protect the fruit. It is made of a polyolefin resin foam sheet and has multiple protective units that individually protect the fruit. Each of the aforementioned protective units is A rectangular bottom-forming portion is laid on the bottom surface of the container, The base forming portion has four side forming portions that are connected to each of the four sides via a first folded line portion, At least one pair of the side forming portions are connected to each other via a second folded line portion at the end opposite to the bottom forming portion, The side-forming portions, which are connected to each other, are characterized by having finger rests. Cushioning material for protecting fruit.

2. The bottom forming portion has a cutout that allows the stored fruit to be visually inspected. The cushioning material for protecting fruit according to claim 1.

3. The area of ​​the cut-out section is 300 mm². ２ 1500mm or more ２ The following is: The cushioning material for protecting fruit according to claim 2.

4. The first folded portion has a straight cut, The ratio of the length of the cut to the total length of the first folded portion is greater than 80% and less than or equal to 98%. A cushioning material for protecting fruit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The second folded portion has a straight cut, The ratio of the length of the cut to the total length of the second folded portion is 90% or more and 98% or less. A cushioning material for protecting fruit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The finger rest portion consists of one of a through hole, a bottomed recess, and a pressing piece. A cushioning material for protecting fruit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. In the finger rest portion, the opening width in the direction parallel to the second fold line portion is 10 mm or more and 30 mm or less. The cushioning material for protecting fruit according to claim 6.

8. The aforementioned polyolefin resin is a polyethylene resin. A cushioning material for protecting fruit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. At each of the four corners of the protective unit, a substantially V-shaped gap is formed between the side edges of two adjacent side forming portions that straddle the corner of the bottom forming portion. At least one of the two side forming portions is not connected to the side forming portion of the other protective unit via the second folded line portion, and the angle of the substantially V-shaped gap between the side forming portions is 40 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less. A cushioning material for protecting fruit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

10. At each of the four corners of the protective unit, the angle of the substantially V-shaped gap between the side forming portions, where both of the two side forming portions are connected to the side forming portions of another protective unit via the second folded line portion, is 85 degrees or more and 110 degrees or less. The cushioning material for protecting fruit according to claim 9.

11. A fruit-protecting cushioning material according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is laid inside the container. Fruit packaging.

12. The container is one in which at least the bottom wall is transparent. The fruit packaging according to claim 11.

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