U.S. patent application number 14/767783 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-07 for packaging comprising a food product.
The applicant listed for this patent is DSM IP ASSETS B.V.. Invention is credited to Pascal Maria Hubert Pierre TIJSSEN.
Application Number | 20160001946 14/767783 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47722144 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160001946 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TIJSSEN; Pascal Maria Hubert
Pierre |
January 7, 2016 |
PACKAGING COMPRISING A FOOD PRODUCT
Abstract
Packaging comprising a container having an open top and
comprising a food product selected from vegetables, fruits and
mushrooms, a film closing the open top of the container and being
tightened over the food product to secure the food product in the
container and so having contact areas with the food product. The
film has a moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR according to ISO
12572:2001, condition B at 1 bar, 38.degree. C. and 50% relative
humidity) of at least 350 g/m.sup.2.day.
Inventors: |
TIJSSEN; Pascal Maria Hubert
Pierre; (Echt, NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DSM IP ASSETS B.V. |
Heerlen |
|
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
47722144 |
Appl. No.: |
14/767783 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
February 19, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2014/053202 |
371 Date: |
August 13, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2565/388 20130101;
B65D 85/34 20130101; B65D 65/38 20130101; B65D 65/02 20130101; B65D
81/26 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/02 20060101
B65D065/02; B65D 85/34 20060101 B65D085/34; B65D 65/38 20060101
B65D065/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 19, 2013 |
EP |
13155760.5 |
Claims
1. Packaging comprising a container having an open top and
comprising a food product selected from vegetables, fruits and
mushrooms, a film closing the open top of the container and being
tightened over the food product to secure the food product in the
container and so having contact areas with the food product,
characterized in that the film has a moisture vapour transmission
rate (MVTR according to ISO 12572:2001, condition B at 1 bar,
38.degree. C. and 50% relative humidity) of at least 350
g/m.sup.2.day.
2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the MVTR of the film is
at least 800 g/m.sup.2.day.
3. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the MVTR of the film is
at least 1200 g/m.sup.2.day.
4. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the film is
perforated.
5. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the film comprises a
thermoplastic elastomer.
6. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the film comprises a
thermoplastic copolyether ester elastomer.
7. Packaging according to claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic
copolyether ester contains soft segments derived from polyethylene
oxide-terminated poly(propylene oxide)diol.
8. Packaging according to claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic
copolyether ester elastomer contains hard segments comprising
repeating units of butylene terephthalate.
9. Packaging according to claim 1 containing as food product
mushrooms, apples, pears, lemons, oranges, tomato's, mango's,
peaches, apricots, paprika's, grapes or strawberries.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a packaging comprising a container
having an open top and comprising a food product selected from
vegetables, fruits and mushrooms, a film closing the open top of
the container and being tightened over the food product to secure
the food product in the container and so having contact areas with
the food product.
[0002] In this way food products are often packed for transport and
storage in the supermarket. Examples of such food products include
mushrooms.
[0003] A problem is that the durability of the food products is
limited by such a packaging, because at the contact areas the food
product rots or deteriorates in another way. For example if
mushrooms are packed in this way, at the contact areas the
mushrooms show a discoloration, so that the mushrooms cannot be
sold anymore. This while the parts were the mushrooms are not in
contact with the film, the mushrooms are still in an excellent
condition.
[0004] Aim of the invention is to diminish the rot, discoloration
or any other way of deterioration at the contact areas of the food
product and the film.
[0005] Surprisingly this object is obtained if the film has a
moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR according to ISO
12572:2001, condition B at 1 bar, 38.degree. C. and 50% relative
humidity) of at least 350 g/m.sup.2.day.
[0006] In this way the decay of the food products at the contact
areas where the film is in contact with the food product is
retarded. This increases the shelf life of the products.
[0007] The container may be a box, a punnet, a basket, a tray, a
platter etc.
[0008] Moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) is measured
according to ISO 12572:1200, condition B at 1 bar, 38.degree. C.
and 50% relative humidity. The distance between the test sample and
the desiccant is 10 mm.
[0009] The MVTR is preferably at least 800 g/m.sup.2.day, more
preferably at least 1200 g/m.sup.2.day, even more preferably at
least 1600 g/m.sup.2.day. In order to prevent drying out of the
food product the MVTR is preferably at most 10.000 g/m.sup.2.day,
more preferably at most 5000 g/m.sup.2.day.
[0010] The film is tightened over the food product to secure the
food product into the container and so having contact areas with
the food product. Mushrooms are for example placed in a punnet or a
basket and a film is tightened over the open top. In most cases the
punnet or basket is just more than fully loaded, so that the
mushrooms stick out of the open top. In this way the film is
tightened over the mushrooms. Furthermore mushrooms tend to grow
further in the packaging, so creating contact areas with the film
or increasing the size of existing contact areas. A further example
is fruit placed on a tray, for example apples or pears. To secure
the fruit in the tray the film must be tightened over the fruit, so
creating the contact areas.
[0011] Preferably the film comprises perforations, more preferably
in the form of micro-perforations that may have a diameter of
between 50 microns and 1000 microns, preferably between 100 and 800
microns. The density of the perforations may be up to about 1000
per m.sup.2, preferably up to about 500 m.sup.2. Perforation may
take place either in a continuous or in a batch process. For
example, the perforation may be effected by contacting the film
with one or more rollers comprising pins or needles to punch the
micro-perforations. Perforation may also be effected by use of
laser technology. The perforation may take place in line with the
production of the film.
[0012] Preferably the film is produced from a thermoplastic
elastomer. One example is a thermoplastic copolyetheramide
elastomer, comprising hard segments of a polyamide and soft
segments of an aliphatic polyether. A further example of a suitable
thermoplastic elastomer is a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). TPUs
may be formed by the reaction between isocyanates, short chain
doils or diamines and long chain diols or diamines. Preferably as
long chain diols polyetherdiols are used.
[0013] Preferably a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPE) is
used as the thermoplastic elastomer. More preferably a copolyether
ester is used as the thermoplastic polyester elastomer.
[0014] The copolyether ester suitably contains hard segments that
are built up from repeating units derived from at least one
alkylene diol and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid or an
ester thereof. As alternative to segment, also the term block is
being used. The linear or cycloaliphatic alkylene diol contains
generally 2-6 C-atoms, preferably 2-4 C-atoms. Examples thereof
include ethylene glycol, propylene diol and butylene diol.
Preferably propylene diol or butylene diol are used, more
preferably 1,4-butylene diol. Examples of suitable aromatic
dicarboxylic acids include terephthalic acid,
2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid or
combinations of these. The advantage thereof is that the resulting
polyester is generally semi-crystalline with a melting point of
above 150, preferably above 175, and more preferably of above
190.degree. C. The hard segments may optionally further contain a
minor amount of units derived from other dicarboxylic acids, for
example isophthalic acid, which generally lowers the melting point
of the polyester. The amount of other dicarboxylic acids is
preferably limited to not more than 10, more preferably not more
than 5 mol %, so as to ensure that, among other things, the
crystallization of the copolyether ester is not adversely affected.
The hard segment is preferably built up from ethylene
terephthalate, propylene terephthalate, and in particular from
butylene terephthalate as repeating units. Advantages of these
readily available units include a high melting point, resulting in
copolyether esters with good processing properties, excellent
thermal and chemical resistance and good puncture resistance.
[0015] Suitable the copolyether ester contains soft segments of an
aliphatic polyether. The polyether may have a glass-transition
temperature (T.sub.g) of below 0.degree. C. Preferably, the T.sub.g
is below -20.degree. C., more preferably below 40.degree. C., and
most preferably below 50.degree. C. The molar mass of the segments
may vary within a wide range, but preferably the molar mass is
chosen between 400 and 6000 g/mol, more preferably between 500 and
4000 g/mol, and most preferably between 750 and 3000 g/mol.
Suitable aliphatic polyethers include a poly(alkylene oxide)diol
derived from an alkylene oxide of 2-6 C-atoms, preferably 2-4
C-atoms, or combinations thereof. Examples include poly(ethylene
oxide)diol, poly(tetramethylene oxide)diol or
poly(tetrahydrofuran)diol, poly(neopentylene
oxide-co-tetramethylene oxide)diol, poly(propylene oxide)diol
Preferably copolyether ester contains soft blocks derived from a
polyethylene oxide-terminated poly(propylene oxide)diol.
[0016] The copolyether ester may further contain a compound with
two or more functional groups that can react with an acid- or
hydroxyl-group, acting as chain extension or chain branching agent,
respectively. Examples of suitable chain extension agents include
carbonylbislactams, diisocyanates and bisepoxides. Suitable chain
branching agents include e.g. trimellitic acid, trimellitic acid
anhydride and trimethylol propane. The amount and type of chain
extension or branching agent is chosen such that a block
copolyester of desirable melt viscosity is obtained. In general,
the amount of a chain branching agent will not be higher than 6.0
equivalents per 100 moles of dicarboxylic acids presenting the
copolyether ester. The copolyether ester can further contain the
usual catalysts and stabilizers.
[0017] Examples and preparation of copolyether esters are for
example described in Handbook of Thermoplastics, ed. O. Olabishi,
Chapter 17, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York 1997, ISBN 0-8247-9797-3,
in Thermoplastic Elastomers, 2nd Ed, Chapter 8, Carl Hanser Verlag
(1996), ISBN 1-56990-205-4, in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and
Engineering, Vol. 12, Wiley & Sons, New York (1988), ISBN
0-471-80944, p.75-117, and the references cited therein.
[0018] Particularly preferred is a copolyether ester with hard
segments built up from butylene terephthalate units and soft
segments derived from polyethylene oxide-terminated poly(propylene
oxide)diol.
[0019] The film may suitably be prepared by extrusion, for example
by the blown film process or cast film process.
[0020] Food products that may be stored in the packaging according
to the invention generally include food products with a smooth
surface, since such food products give rise to the presence of
contact areas with the film. Examples of such food products include
mushrooms, apples, pears, tomato's, mango's, peaches, paprika's,
grapes, strawberries etc.
[0021] In the packaging according to the invention contact areas
between the food product and the film may be present that have a
surface of at least 10 mm.sup.2. The invention shows its benefits
especially if contact areas are present having a surface of at
least 100 mm.sup.2, even more if contact areas are present having a
surface of at least 1000 mm.sup.2.
[0022] The invention will be further explained in the figure.
[0023] FIG. 1 is schematic intersection of a box comprising
mushrooms.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic intersection of a tray comprising
apples.
[0025] In FIG. 1 a schematic intersection of a box comprising
mushrooms is shown. The box (1) is just more than fully loaded with
mushrooms (2). The mushrooms stick somewhat out the box, so that
the mushrooms are secured in the box by tightening the film (3)
over the mushrooms, so to create contact areas (4) between the film
and the mushrooms.
[0026] In FIG. 2 a schematic intersection of a tray (1) comprising
apples is shown. At the tray apples (2) are placed. The film (3)
has been tightened over the apples, to keep the apples in place at
the tray. Between the apples and the film contact areas (4) are
present.
COMPARATIVE EXPERIMENT A, B AND EXAMPLE I
[0027] Three boxes of length of 190 mm, a width of 135 mm and a
height of 55 mm were just more than fully filled with mushrooms, as
indicated in FIG. 1. A 25 micron nylon film (Akulon F 136,
delivered by DSM, the Netherlands) (comp. exp. A) a 30 mm
perforated PVC film (comp. exp. B) and a 25 mm copolyetherester
film (Arnitel Arnitel VT3104) (Exp. I) were tightened over the
mushrooms.
[0028] Moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) is measured
according to ISO 12572:1200, condition B at 1 bar, 38.degree. C.
and 50% relative humidity. The distance between the test sample and
the desiccant is 10 mm.
[0029] The MVTR of the nylon film is 100 g/m.sup.2.day, the MVTR of
the PVC film is 240 g/m.sup.2.day, the MVTR of the copolyester film
is 1880 g/m.sup.2.day.
[0030] The boxes were stored at 8.degree. C. and 50% relative
humidity. In the boxes according to comparative experiment A and B
the mushrooms showed discoloration at the contact areas between the
mushrooms and the film after 7 days. The mushrooms of example I
showed discoloration only after 10 days.
* * * * *