System and method for packaging of fresh produce incorporating modified atmosphere packaging
View Patent ↗A modified atmosphere packaging system and method which allows field and/or centralized facility packing of fresh produce and refrigerated air to circulate throughout a palletized stack of cartons. The packaging includes a transparent lid which is sealingly attached to a corrugated carton allowing for inspection of perishable produce contained therein without breaching an established modified atmosphere.
1. A packaging system comprising:
an open container having a volume and a plurality of sides wherein the sides have a plurality of raised portions, which extend vertically from the top edge of the sides, and each of the plurality of raised portions includes a groove;
a lid having a top surface, a rim and a perimeter, wherein the rim is operably configured to cover the container and seal the volume from an ambient atmosphere, and wherein the top surface includes a plurality of raised structures, wherein each of the plurality of raised structures includes a groove, that are operably configured to correspond to the raised portions on the open container, wherein the grooves of the lid fit in the grooves of the open container, such that when vertically stacked with another identical system, the raised structures create an air gap between the stacked systems; and,
at least one gas permeable membrane disposed in at least one of the lid and the container and being in communication with the volume and the ambient atmosphere.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a transparent top surface.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the container is a corrugated carton of fiberboard construction.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of raised structures further includes an interior headspace contiguous with the volume, wherein each of the interior headspaces provides room to allow expansion of one or more gases present within the volume.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the air gap allows ventilation to flow in at least one of a lateral and a longitudinal direction.
6. The system as recited in claim 1 , further including an aperture to supply a cover gas to fill the volume.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 , further including a sealing member, wherein the sealing member seals the lid to the container.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the container and the lid has an aperture.
9. The system as recited in claim 8 , further including an at least one adhesive patch, wherein the at least one gas permeable membrane is disposed in the at least one adhesive patch and the at least one adhesive patch is operably configured to completely cover the aperture.
10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lid further includes an anti-fogging treatment.
11. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein, the container has an exterior surface, and the rim encircles the perimeter of the lid and the rim extends along the exterior surface of the container.
12. A packaging device comprising:
an open container having an interior volume, wherein the container includes a plurality of sides, a plurality of raised portions formed on the top edge of at least one of the plurality of sides, and wherein a groove is disposed in each of the at least one of the plurality of raised portions;
a lid having a top surface that includes a plurality of raised structures, wherein each of the plurality of raised structures includes a groove, that are operably configured to correspond to the raised portions on the open container. wherein the grooves of the lid fit in the grooves of the open container, and the lid is operably configured to enclose the container, wherein the interior volume is sealed from an ambient atmosphere; and,
at least one gas permeable membrane in communication with the interior volume, and the ambient atmosphere.
13. The device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the at least one gas permeable membrane is disposed in at least one of the lid and the container.
14. The device as recited in claim 12 , wherein at least one of the lid and the container includes an aperture.
15. The device as recited in claim 14 , further including a patch,
wherein the at least one gas permeable membrane is incorporated into the patch and the patch is operably configured to completely cover the aperture.
16. The device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the container is a corrugated carton of fiberboard construction.
17. The device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the lid has a transparent top surface and a plurality of raised structures disposed on the top surface.
18. The device as recited in claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of raised structures further includes an interior headspace contiguous with the interior volume, wherein each of the interior headspaces provides room to allow expansion of gas present within the interior volume.
19. The device as recited in claim 17 , wherein the plurality of raised structures are operably configured such that when the device is vertically stacked with another identical device the raised structures create an air gap between the stacked devices to allow ventilation to flow through the air gap in at least one of a lateral and a longitudinal direction.
20. The device as recited in claim 12 , further including a sealing member, wherein the sealing member seals the lid to the container.
21. The device as recited in claim 12 , wherein:
the container has an exterior surface; and,
the lid includes a rim and a perimeter, wherein, the rim encircles the perimeter of the lid and the rim extends along the exterior surface of the container.
22. The device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the lid includes an anti-fogging treatment.
23. The device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the container is operably configured to generally have at least one of a square and a rectangular shape.
24. The device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the container further includes a substantially non-permeable liner.