Breathable Polymeric Fruit Packaging Bags
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fresh fruit faces challenges in maintaining freshness during transportation due to rapid ripening and susceptibility to pests and contaminants when exposed to ambient atmospheric gases and temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Sealable, breathable bags are designed to create a modified atmosphere environment around the fruit, using a folded sheet of permeable polymeric material that transitions between configurations to fit within a packaging box, protecting the fruit from damage and contamination while allowing gas exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fresh fruit is packaged in conventional non-breathable containers, then physical protection from pests and contaminants is improved, but the fruit ripens and spoils quickly due to lack of gas exchange
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs breathable polymeric material with controlled porosity that allows gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide permeation) while maintaining physical barrier properties. This porous structure enables the material to function as both a protective barrier against pests/contaminants and a breathable envelope that maintains modified atmosphere for extended freshness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite polymeric structures combining different material properties - the breathable polymeric material integrates gas permeability with mechanical strength and barrier properties, creating a composite solution that simultaneously achieves protection and extended freshness duration.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If fresh fruit is kept exposed to ambient atmosphere, then gas exchange is maintained, but the fruit quickly ripens and spoils
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a modified atmosphere environment within the breathable bag that is richer in carbon dioxide and lower in oxygen compared to ambient air. This altered gas composition acts as a protective environment that slows ripening and extends freshness duration while the breathable material allows controlled gas exchange to maintain this modified atmosphere.
3Ease of operation
If the bag is designed in a fully opened configuration for filling, then ease of operation is improved, but the bag occupies excessive storage space when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The bag is constructed from a folded sheet with multiple panels and folds that allow it to collapse into a compact form. The segmented structure with front/rear panels and multiple folds enables the bag to be stored in a flattened state while maintaining the capability to expand to full size during the filling operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag transitions between three-dimensional expanded configuration during filling and two-dimensional flattened configuration for storage. The folded sheet design with multiple panels allows the bag to collapse primarily in the vertical dimension while maintaining horizontal footprint, significantly reducing storage volume while preserving ease of filling operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bags effectively preserve fruit freshness by maintaining a controlled gas environment, reducing ripening, and protecting against pests and physical damage, ensuring the fruit remains fresh for longer periods during storage and transportation.
Implementation Method 1
the breathable polymeric material is permeable to CO2 and O2
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are sealable, breathable bags for packaging, storing, and transporting fresh fruit in boxes. The bags protects the fruit from outside contaminants while maintaining a modified atmosphere environment around the fruit to preserve the freshness of the fruit. Furthermore, the bags are constructed in such a way that they have a flattened closed configuration and an fully opened configuration that allows them to efficiently fit into a generally cuboid, open-topped packaging box to be filled with fresh fruit and then seal around the fruit in the box, such as by sliding a slider across an upper closure of the bag.