Weyerhaeuser Company Limited

Robert H Young

Herbert D Muise

Ron H Iff

Amar N Neogi

David W Park

Earl D Hasenwinkle

Lee E Perdelwitz, Jr

David E Hanke

George T Tiedeman

Raimo K Rahkonen

Kathleen S Allison

Perdelwitz, Jr, Lee E

Amar H Neogi

James J Nussbaum

A method for packaging, cooling, and storing fresh produce is disclosed. The produce is placed in a plastic bag having apertures that control ventilation so as to admit a fumigant gas but prevent significant moisture loss. Multiple units of the bagged produce are, in turn, placed in a corrugated shipping container. Using the bag design shown it has been found that humidity of the cold storage environment may be safely reduced to about 65-75% without significant deterioration of the contained produce. This is in contrast with the usual 90% RH environment needed to prevent moisture loss. The reduced humidity environment effects a very significant improvement in shipping container compression strength. Storage at 70% RH, in contrast to storage at 90% RH, results in an almost 50% improvement in compression strength. The result is less damage to the containers and their contents. Somewhat lighter weight shipping containers are also suitable, resulting in reduced costs.

Method of treating fresh produce

The invention is a produce bag that permits fumigation of the contained product but effectively prevents product moisture loss. The bag is perforated on one major surface only, the other surface being left imperforate. The perforations on the other surface provide from 0.35-2.0% open area on this surface. Perforations are preferably in the range of 0.12-0.18 inches in diameter and 50 or more are typically needed. When filled with produce, a single layer of filled bags is placed in a corrugated shipping container. The imperforate surface of the bag is placed downward in contact with the shipping container to prevents moisture loss to the container.

Fresh produce package

Pet pads contain insecticide and have at least one layer comprising a mixture of thermoplastic and other fibers. This latter layer may be thermobonded together and then densified along at least a section of the eventual peripheral edge margin of a pet pad to be formed from the material. By including insecticide in the mixture prior to thermobonding, the insecticide is fixed in the pad during thermobonding. Thermoplastic material-containing cover sheets may also be secured to the core and densified along the periphery of the pad. The entire eventual peripheral edge margin of the pet pad is typically densified. The densified edge acts as a partial liquid barrier and also helps retain the insecticide in the pad, especially if the insecticide is not fixed by thermobonding.

Pet pad of thermoplastic containing materials with insecticide

Materials have at least one layer comprising a mixture of thermoplastic and other fibers. This latter layer may be thermobonded together and then densified along at least a section of the eventual peripheral edge margin of an article to be formed from the material. Thermoplastic material-containing cover sheets may also be secured to the core and densified in this manner. The entire eventual peripheral edge margin of the article is typically densified. The material is cut within the densified region or slightly outside the densified region to provide a soft peripheral edge. Absorbent materials may be thermobonded within the layer and surrounded by a densified edge to fix them within the article. The composite materials are used in manufacturing infant car seat liners and other articles. In addition, sections of the material may be densified and provided with weakened areas, such as perforations, to enable users to selectively separate the articles along the perforations.

Thermoplastic material containing absorbent pad or other article

The present invention is a method of preserving plants which achieves reduced bleeding of the preservative material when the plants are subjected to elevated humidity conditions. The method comprises perfusing the plants with an aqueous preservative composition in which the preservative is primarily an alkylene oxide oligomer, 1,3-butanediol, or 1,4-butanediol. Preferred alkylene oxide oligomers are di- and polyethylene glycols in the molecular weight range of about 200-1500 and di- and polypropylene glycols with an average molecular weight below about 450. The preferred materials may be used with lesser amounts of secondary humectant materials selected from glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, magnesium chloride or magnesium bromide hexahydrate, and water soluble cycle phosphonate esters. Plants are conventionally treated by perfusing an aqeous treatment solution into the vascular system through a cut stem or other incision which exposes the xylem. Treatment is carried out at a temperature in the range of 20.degree.-50.degree. C. at a relative humidity in the range of about 20%-80% for a period time up to about 14 days.

Method for increasing bleed resistance of preserved plants and products

Growing community of inventors

Tacoma, WA, United States of America

Robert H Young