Gas-Permeable Produce Container for Modified Atmosphere Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging systems for fresh produce and flowers fail to simultaneously control ideal oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, leading to suboptimal shelf life and vase life extension, as they often result in anaerobic conditions and fungal growth due to uniform permeability rates for oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Innovation Solution
A gas permeable non-woven fabric film with a polymer coating, specifically designed to regulate oxygen and carbon dioxide levels by allowing greater carbon dioxide permeability than oxygen, is used to create a modified atmosphere within packaging, extending shelf life and maintaining high quality by reducing metabolic activity and ethylene production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform permeability packaging is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but oxygen and carbon dioxide levels cannot be controlled simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging film has different permeability characteristics for different gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide). The film allows CO2 to pass through at a higher rate than oxygen, creating different local permeability properties for different gas molecules within the same material structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite packaging film that combines multiple materials or structures to achieve selective gas permeability. This composite structure enables differential transmission rates for oxygen and carbon dioxide, allowing simultaneous control of both gas levels in the package atmosphere.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If reduced oxygen levels are used to extend shelf life, then respiration rate decreases, but anaerobic conditions develop causing harm
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging system dynamically adjusts oxygen and carbon dioxide levels through selective permeability. By changing the permeability parameters of the film material, the system maintains oxygen levels above anaerobic thresholds while still reducing respiration rates for shelf life extension.
Solution Approach 2:
The differential permeability film creates a feedback mechanism where carbon dioxide accumulation is allowed up to beneficial levels while oxygen depletion is automatically limited by the film's selective properties, preventing anaerobic conditions from developing.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If increased carbon dioxide levels are used to extend shelf life, then fungal growth is inhibited, but tissue softening occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging film controls carbon dioxide levels by allowing permeation at a controlled rate. The film's permeability parameters are designed to prevent excessive CO2 accumulation that would cause tissue softening, while still maintaining sufficient CO2 levels to inhibit fungal growth.
4Ease of manufacture
If low density polyethylene bags are used for storage, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but adequate permeability for long term storage is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces simple low density polyethylene with a composite packaging film that combines materials or structures to achieve both manufacturability and controlled permeability. This composite structure provides reliable oxygen and carbon dioxide transmission rates necessary for long term storage.
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 film effectively extends the shelf life and vase life of produce and flowers by maintaining specific gas levels, reducing respiration rates, preventing tissue softening, and inhibiting fungal growth, while preserving nutrients through controlled gas exchange.
Implementation Method 1
Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric based Film, which allows for Carbon Dioxide gas to move in and out of the packaging at a rate many times greater than that of Oxygen
Implementation Method 2
Produce is a living tissue that derives energy primarily by exchanging gases with its surroundings through the process of respiration
Data Source
AI summary
The Shelf Life Extending Container for fruits and vegetables extends the shelf life of various fresh fruits and vegetables and vase life of fresh cut flowers by changing the atmosphere in which these living products are stored and respires. The Shelf Life Extending Container does this by utilizing a Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric Based Film. The high oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability of the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric Based Film establishes an ideal atmosphere for the multiple perishable items stored within the Shelf life Extending Container, and therefore extends their shelf life. The establishment of lower oxygen and carbon dioxide atmospheres within the Shelf Life Extending Container using the Gas Permeable Non-Woven Fabric Based Film, also leads to a reduction in the respiration rate of the perishable items stored. The reduction in the respiration rate of the perishable items prevents loss of moisture, production of metabolic heat, yellowing, browning, and reduces the production levels of ethylene by the perishable items. Therefore, the created atmosphere is able to extend shelf life, maintain high quality, and preserve nutrients of fresh produce items by naturally regulating respiration of said produce/flowers.