Landec Corporation

Apio, Inc.

Curation Foods, Inc.

Raymond Clarke

Donald A Schultz

Ray F Stewart

Valentine Y Yoon

Steven P Bitler

Andrew W Larson

Bradley Marshall McClary

Ross S Tsugita

Edward E Schmitt

Nicholas J Tompkins

Angel Reyes

Robert G Freelin

Charles B Derringer

Steven James

David A Kemp

Packaging of fruits in containers. The containers preferably have designed permeabilities to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene and include a gas-permeable membrane comprising (1) a microporous film, and (2) a polymeric coating on the microporous film. The containers enable storage and/or ripening of fruits under controlled conditions. Using the new containers, fruits can be ripened while they are being transported, or in conventional ripening rooms without opening the bags in which they have been transported. In addition, fruits can be preserved in a satisfactory ripened state for longer periods of time. Methods of treating fruits with insecticides, fungicides and mold-inhibiting compounds are also disclosed.

Packaging and methods of use for respiring biological materials

Packaging of respiring biological materials, particularly bananas and other fruits, in sealed containers. The containers preferably include a gas-permeable membrane comprising (1) a microporous film, and (2) a polymeric coating on the microporous film. Using appropriate containers and appropriate controlled atmospheres around the container, the respiring materials can be stored and/or ripened under controlled conditions. Bananas can be ripened while they are being transported, or in conventional ripening rooms without opening the containers in which they have been transported. The ripe bananas are less dehydrated and remain in a satisfactory ripened state for longer periods of time. The gas-permeable membrane can preferably take the form of either a 'curtain' or 'cartridge' and the R ratio of the membrane may be optimized by adjusting the differential pressure across the membrane.

Atmosphere control around respiring biological materials

Combinations of atmosphere control members are used to control the atmosphere within a sealed container which contains a respiring biological material. The combination makes use of a first ACM having a first R ratio (the ratio of carbon dioxide permeability to oxygen permeability) and a second ACM having a second R ratio, the first R ratio being substantially greater than 1.0, and the second R ratio being less than the first R ratio. This combination () can form part of the sealed container () itself, or can be part of an assembly () through which the packaging atmosphere within the sealed container () is circulated.

Combinations of atmosphere control members

Atmosphere control members (ACMs) are used in various ways. In one aspect, at least one of the atmospheres in contact with the ACM is cause to flow over the surface of the ACM. In another aspect, the ACM is an internal ACM which does not form part of the exterior surface of a container. In another aspect, the ACM forms part of a reusable module. In another aspect, a plurality of sealed containers, each including an ACM, are stored in an outer container also including an ACM. FIGS.-illustrate a shipping container () comprising an internal ACM () having one surface which is exposed to the packaging atmosphere within the shipping container and an opposite surface which is part of a closed chamber () to which gases can be supplied in a controlled fashion.

Packaging

Packaging of bananas in containers having designed permeabilities to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene. The containers preferably include a gas-permeable membrane comprising (1) a microporous film, and (2) a polymeric coating on the microporous film. The containers enable storage and/or ripening of bananas under controlled conditions. Using the new containers, bananas can be ripened while they are being transported, or in conventional ripening rooms without opening the bags in which they have been transported. In addition, bananas can be preserved in a satisfactory ripened state for longer periods of time.

Packaging of bananas

Packaging of respiring biological materials, particularly bananas and other fruits, in sealed containers. The containers preferably include a gas-permeable membrane comprising (1) a microporous film, and (2) a polymeric coating on the microporous film. Using appropriate containers and appropriate controlled atmospheres around the container, the respiring materials can be stored and/or ripened under controlled conditions. Bananas can be ripened while they are being transported, or in conventional ripening rooms without opening the containers in which they have been transported. The ripe bananas are less dehydrated and remain in a satisfactory ripened state for longer periods of time.

Packaging of respiring biological materials

Gas-permeable membranes comprising a microporous film and a coating on the microporous film, the coating being obtained by coating the microporous film with a liquid coating composition comprising a polymer and hollow polymeric particles dispersed in the composition, and then solidifying the coating. The gas-permeable membrane has a reduced ratio of carbon dioxide permeability to oxygen permeability.

Gas-permeable membrane

Novel gas-permeable membranes which are particularly useful in the packaging of fresh cut fruit and vegetables, and other respiring biological materials. The membranes have an Opermeability of at least 775,000 ml/m.atm.24 hrs, a Pratio of at least 1.3, and a ratio of COpermeability to Opermeability (R) of at least 1.5, and are made by forming thin polymeric coatings on microporous polymeric films. Preferred coating polymers are side chain crystalline polymers. Preferred microporous films contain inorganic fillers, particularly such films based on ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene or polypropylene. FIG.illustrates how Opermeability and R ratio vary for different coating polymers and microporous films.

Novel gas-permeable membranes which are particularly useful in the packaging of fresh cut fruit and vegetables, and other respiring biological materials. The membranes comprise a microporous film or other gas-permeable substrate and, coated on the substrate, a layer of a block copolymer having a heat of fusion of at least 5 J/g and containing polysiloxane polymeric blocks and crystalline polymeric blocks having a melting point of &minus;5 to 40&deg; C.

Packaging biological materials

Novel gas-permeable membranes which are particularly useful in the packaging of fresh cut fruit and vegetables, and other respiring biological materials. The membranes have an O permeability of at least 775,000 ml/m .atm.24 hrs, a P ratio of at least 1.3, and a ratio of CO permeability to O permeability (R) of at least 1.5, and are made by forming thin polymeric coatings on microporous polymeric films. Preferred coating polymers are side chain crystalline polymers. Preferred microporous films contain inorganic fillers, particularly such films based on ultrahigh molecular weight polyetheylene or polypropylene. FIG. illustrates how O permeability an R ratio vary for different coating polymers and microporous films.

Sealed packages of foodstuffs which are biological materials, particularly fruit, are vented by a temperature-sensitive control unit. The control unit covers an aperture in a wall of the package. The control unit includes a barrier member which is secured over the aperture by a layer of temperature sensitive adhesive, and a force member which lifts the barrier member away from the aperture when an increase in temperature weakens the adhesive. The force member is preferably elastically deformed.

Temperature-responsive containers

TPE's which comprise A blocks or B blocks or both A blocks and B blocks, which are crystalline and in which at least a part of the crystallinity result from the presence of crystallizable side chains. Such crystalline blocks are referred to as SCC blocks. TPE's containing SCC A blocks are novel and as such form part of the present invention. The invention also includes processes, compositions, shaped articles and assemblies which make use of TPE's containing SCC A blocks.

Thermoplastic elastomers

Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) compositions containing a crystalline polymeric additive having an M.sub.w of less than 25,000 and a melting point (T.sub.a) greater than 23.degree. C., preferably 30.degree. to 60.degree. , and PSA composites of a backing, preferably a flexible backing, with such a PSA composition coated thereon. The presence of the additive causes the PSA to lose adhesive strength when heated to T.sub.a. The base resin of the PSA is preferably a polyacrylate or a styrene/butadiene copolymer. The additive, which is preferably present in amount 1 to 35%, e.g. 5 to 30%, is preferably a side chain crystallizable (SCC) polymer.

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Raymond Clarke