Packing Tray Flap Door Drainage for Fruit Moisture Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packing trays for fragile objects, such as fruit, often fail to prevent moisture and condensation damage due to inadequate drainage, leading to spoilage and bruising, especially during long-distance transportation and varying climate conditions.
Innovation Solution
A packing tray with a drainage system featuring cell pockets having a lowermost sump area with flap doors and inner and outer channels to direct moisture away from the objects, ensuring effective moisture removal and flexibility during handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hole is provided in the bottom of each cell pocket for ventilation, then air or moisture ventilation is enabled, but the hole can easily be sealed off by the article being held therein and drainage functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible flap door at the sump area that dynamically opens and closes based on moisture accumulation. The flap remains closed during normal conditions but automatically opens when water reaches the sump, allowing drainage while preventing premature sealing by stored articles.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the sump area for moisture collection, the flexible flap door for controlled opening, and the drainage hole for water discharge. This segmentation ensures that each component performs its specific function effectively without interfering with others.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If adequate drainage is not provided, then the structure remains simple, but watermarks due to moisture or condensation form on the fruit causing it to spoil or become bruised
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is designed to be self-activating through the flexible flap door mechanism. When moisture accumulates in the sump area, the weight of the water automatically opens the flap, enabling drainage without requiring external control systems or complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible flap door is constructed from a thin, flexible material that can easily bend and respond to moisture weight. This flexible component provides an effective drainage control mechanism while adding minimal structural complexity to the overall tray design.
3Ease of operation
If the sump area is formed with reduced cell wall thickness, then enhanced flexibility of the flap doors is provided, but the structural strength of the cell pocket is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cell wall thickness is varied locally within the sump area to optimize both flexibility and strength. The reduced thickness is concentrated specifically where the flap door is located to maximize flexibility, while adjacent areas maintain sufficient thickness to preserve overall structural integrity.
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 tray effectively prevents moisture-related damage by facilitating drainage and enhancing flexibility, ensuring the safe storage and transport of perishable items by maintaining the integrity of the packed objects.
Implementation Method 1
Inner and outer cell pocket channels are provided on the inner and outer surfaces of the cell pockets respectively to effect water flow and removal. The inner channels direct water flow or moisture to the bottom sump area and drainage hole(s), while the outer channels on the back side of the cell pockets assist with drainage through the opening(s) and moisture removal.
Data Source
AI summary
Packing tray for packing fruit and other fragile objects including a drainage system that channels water away from the fruit. The packing tray includes a plurality of cell pockets, each cell pocket having a lowermost sump area with at least one flap door punched out but not removed from the sump area, providing a drainage opening from the cell. Inner and outer cell pocket channels are provided on both the inner and outer surfaces of the cell pockets to direct water flow and removal.