EP0592516A1 - Control of condensation - Google Patents
Control of condensationInfo
- Publication number
- EP0592516A1 EP0592516A1 EP92914173A EP92914173A EP0592516A1 EP 0592516 A1 EP0592516 A1 EP 0592516A1 EP 92914173 A EP92914173 A EP 92914173A EP 92914173 A EP92914173 A EP 92914173A EP 0592516 A1 EP0592516 A1 EP 0592516A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- water
- produce
- fibres
- package
- sheet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
- B65D81/26—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators
- B65D81/264—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators for absorbing liquids
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a packaging material and method for the control of condensation within packages of horticultural produce and other packages of other products requiring high relative humidities.
- the packaging material and method of the present invention provide a means by which condensed water is transferred to the outside of the package or into a sachet of desiccant without substantially depleting the water vapour content of the atmosphere within the package.
- a second method of control involves attempting to stop condensation occurring by making the packaging material so permeable to water vapour that it is more readily lost to the exterior. This is done by perforating the packaging with small holes. A problem is that this leads to reduced humidities within the package and increased weight loss from the commodity. This method is not compatible with modified atmospheric storage of commodities, because the holes in the packaging allow free diffusion of oxygen in from the atmosphere. It does not work if the atmosphere of the storage room is very humid.
- a third method is to place desiccants in the horticultural package within sachets that are freely permeable to water vapour.
- a problem is that the differences in partial pressure for water vapour between the desiccant and other parts of the bag are small. This results in the transfer of water being diffusion limited and water is preferentially removed from the produce closest to the sachet. The local dehydration reduces the life and quality of the produce.
- the present invention allows condensation to be removed from packages without dehydrating the produce and without decreasing the relative humidity around the produce.
- the present invention consists in a packaging material for use in packing produce, the packaging material comprising a sheet which is impermeable to water characterised in that a first side of the sheet is hydrophilic and is provided with fibres capable of conducting water by capillary action.
- the present invention consists in a method of packing produce comprising wrapping the produce in a sheet, characterised in that a first side of the sheet is hydrophilic and is provided with fibres capable of conducting water by capillary action.
- the fibres pass through the sheet material.
- a desiccant is provided within the package and the fibres are bought into contact with the desiccant.
- the fibres may be composed of any of a number of materials provided that they are capable of conducting water by capillary action. Examples include cotton thread and the like, highly hydrophilic super absorbent polyemrs and polymers the sulphate of whichis highly hydrophilic.
- a variety of desiccants may be used in the present invention. Any compound that is able to reduce the relative humidity of an environment below 98% can be used. Typical desiccants of this kind are ones made from minerals that absorb water such as silica gel, or salts such as sodium chloride. Organic materials that absorb water such as sugars and other polyhydroxy compounds can be used. Polymeric materials, such as water swellable gels and polyvinyl alcohol may also be used. The common feature of suitable desiccants is that they should be able to provide local environments with a relative humidity lower than 98%.
- Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the set up and results of experiments to demonstrate the theory behind the present invention.
- Figures 4, 5 and 6 show various embodiments of the present invention.
- a glass bottle is shown that contains liquid water.
- the lid of the bottle is pierced by a hole of diameter 1mm.
- Fig. B the weight of water lost through the hole to the atmosphere (relative humidity 55%, temperature 21°C) is plotted as a graph against time over 25 minutes. The result indicates that the loss of water as vapour through the hole was too small to be measured over the time scale used.
- Fig. 2A shows a similar set up except that a cotton sewing thread has been passed from the liquid reservoir through the hole so that liquid water may be transferred to the outside by capillary action and be evaporated there.
- Fig. 2B shows the plot of weight water lost. In this case, there was a constant rate of water loss through the cotton capillary of about 0.8 micrograms per minute.
- Figs. 1 and 2 The principles demonstrated by Figs. 1 and 2 are used in the invention described below.
- a material capable of conducting water by capillary action is used to transfer condensed water from a region in equilibrium with a high relative humidity of the gas phase or high water potential, to a region in equilibrium with a lower relative humidity of the gas phase, or lower water potential.
- the setup in Fig. 3 is similar except that the contact of the cotton thread with the water reservoir has been broken. The graph shows that this stops the transfer of water.
- Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate how capillary flow along a wick can transfer water only when it is in contact with liquid water. This principle is used in the invention described below.
- FIG. 4 A package is made of a material 10 that restricts water loss from the horticultural produce 12.
- the inner surface of the packaging material 10 is hydrophilic. That is, water in contact with the inner surface will spread and not form discrete droplets.
- the inner surface of the packaging material is contacted by or laminated with fibres or threads 14 capable of conducting water by capillary action.
- An example of such a material is cotton thread.
- the material conducting water passes at a point or at several points through the packaging material 10, to be exposed on its outer surface.
- the average relative humidity outside the package is assumed to be substantially less than 98%, as is typical of refrigerated stores.
- Fig. 5 shows a second configuration of the invention which is suitable for use in modified atmosphere packages.
- a package is made of a material 16 that restricts the transfer of oxygen, carbon dioxide and water to and from the atmosphere surrounding horticultural produce 12.
- the inner surface of the material 16 is hydrophilic and is contacted by or laminated with fibres or threads 14 that are capable of conducting water by capillary action.
- a desiccant 18 is contained in a water-impermeable sachet or pouch 20.
- the cotton thread 14 that contacts the inner surface of the packaging material passes through the wall of the desiccant sachet or pouch 20. Any condensate is conducted along the fibres or threads 14 to the desiccant 18 where it evaporates.
- horticultural produce 12 When horticultural produce 12 is placed within the package it can be sealed hermetically to form a modified atmosphere package.
- the permeation of oxygen into the package is balanced by the respiratory use of oxygen by the horticultural produce. This balance is achieved at some reduced level of oxygen typically between 1 and 10%.
- the level of carbon dioxide within the package is elevated, typically between 1 and 15%. This is achieved by the rate of respiratory production of carbon dioxide being equal to the rate of permeation of the carbon dioxide out of the package.
- a substantial barrier to the permeation of gases is necessary for modified atmosphere packaging to work. This means that holes to allow the exit of any condensation water must not be present. This requirement is met by this configuration of the invention, as the water is removed by a desiccant within the package. Because the desiccant is contained within a package impermeable to water it does not dry out the produce.
- FIG. 6 Another configuration of the invention is shown in Fig. 6. It takes the form of a condensation control flake, in which a desiccant 22 is sealed within two leaves of water impermeable polymer 24. Fibres or threads 26 are capable of transferring water by capillary action traverse the walls of impermeable polymer 24. Flakes made in this way may be scattered in packages where condensed water is likely to accumulate. The flakes will absorb any liquid water that they contact, but will not appreciably lower levels of relative humidity.
- the packaging material and method of the present invention provide a means by which produce may be packaged without dehydration of the produce.
- the packaging material and method of packaging of the present invention also substantially ameliorates the problem with the prior art of water condensing on the surface of the horticultural produce.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
Abstract
La présente invention se rapporte à un matériau d'emballage et à un procédé de régulation de condensation dans des emballages pour produits horticoles et d'autres emballages de produits nécessitant des taux d'humidité relativement élevés. Le matériau d'emballage comprend une feuille (10) imperméable à l'eau, un premier côté de la feuille étant hydrophile et étant pourvu de fibres (14) pouvant conduire l'eau par effet de capillarité. Selon des variantes préférées, les fibres sont mises en contact avec un produit déshydratant (18) ou passent à travers la feuille (10).The present invention relates to a packaging material and a method of regulating condensation in packaging for horticultural products and other packaging for products requiring relatively high humidity. The packaging material comprises a waterproof sheet (10), a first side of the sheet being hydrophilic and provided with fibers (14) which can conduct water by capillary action. According to preferred variants, the fibers are brought into contact with a dehydrating product (18) or pass through the sheet (10).
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AUPK709691 | 1991-07-05 | ||
AU7096/91 | 1991-07-05 | ||
PCT/AU1992/000325 WO1993001101A1 (en) | 1991-07-05 | 1992-07-02 | Control of condensation |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0592516A1 true EP0592516A1 (en) | 1994-04-20 |
EP0592516A4 EP0592516A4 (en) | 1995-11-22 |
Family
ID=3775529
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP92914173A Withdrawn EP0592516A4 (en) | 1991-07-05 | 1992-07-02 | Control of condensation |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0592516A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH06508808A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2112906A1 (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ243440A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1993001101A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1994003329A1 (en) * | 1992-08-06 | 1994-02-17 | Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation | A package allowing cooling and preservation of horticultural produce without condensation or desiccation |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4050463A (en) * | 1976-08-20 | 1977-09-27 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Diapers |
AU1862076A (en) * | 1976-10-13 | 1978-04-20 | Ici Ltd | Horticultural capilliary substrate |
CA1127059A (en) * | 1979-07-09 | 1982-07-06 | Robert E. Erickson | Flexible absorbent laminates |
AU517178B3 (en) * | 1980-06-18 | 1981-10-01 | O. Sylvester | Plant container |
US4997082A (en) * | 1988-06-28 | 1991-03-05 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Humidistat |
-
1992
- 1992-07-02 WO PCT/AU1992/000325 patent/WO1993001101A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1992-07-02 CA CA 2112906 patent/CA2112906A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-07-02 JP JP5501837A patent/JPH06508808A/en active Pending
- 1992-07-02 EP EP92914173A patent/EP0592516A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1992-07-03 NZ NZ24344092A patent/NZ243440A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
No further relevant documents disclosed * |
See also references of WO9301101A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0592516A4 (en) | 1995-11-22 |
WO1993001101A1 (en) | 1993-01-21 |
JPH06508808A (en) | 1994-10-06 |
CA2112906A1 (en) | 1993-01-21 |
NZ243440A (en) | 1995-04-27 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19940110 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU MC NL SE |
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A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 19951002 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A4 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU MC NL SE |
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GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19960318 |
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GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
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GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN |
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18W | Application withdrawn |
Withdrawal date: 19960913 |