JP2005096807A - Buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tray that can easily cope with variations in the shape and size of fruits and can store and hold fruits without excessive movement during transportation.
SOLUTION: A pulp mold tray 1 having a plurality of storage recesses 2, wherein a slit-like opening 5 along an edge of the storage recess is provided in a bank body part 3 that partitions adjacent storage recesses, The storage recess is deformable within the opening range of the opening.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a pulp mold tray that is used when transporting and shipping fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, peaches, melons, and tomatoes and that uses pulp slurry as a molding raw material.

Conventionally, when shipping relatively heavy fruits such as pears and apples, a tray made of styrene foam or the like is used, and a cushioning material is interposed between the trays so that the fruits are stacked in several upper and lower stages. It was housed in a packaging container. However, due to increasing interest in environmental issues in recent years, packaging materials and cushioning materials that can be recycled, or those that are made of materials that have a low impact on the global environment even when discarded, are required to form pulp slurry. A packaging buffer tray using a pulp mold as a raw material has attracted attention.
The use of pulp mold buffer trays for fruits is already known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). For example, a pulp mold tray used for shipping fruits in a cardboard box has a plurality of fruit storage recesses on the upper surface, and stacks trays in a packaging container such as a cardboard box to count the number of fruits. Corrugated. The concave portion for storage is a substantially hemispherical holding portion close to the shape of the fruit to be stored, and can be supported in a wide area (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
By the way, the pulp mold tray can use waste paper pulp as a raw material, so the material cost is low, it is not only environmentally friendly, but also has excellent breathability and hygroscopicity, and also exhibits sufficient effect for maintaining the freshness of fruits and vegetables. have.
Usually, pulp mold trays are required to be strong enough to withstand distribution, so they are often made to be relatively hard and highly shape-retaining, and are used as buffer trays for fruits and vegetables with a hard epidermis such as pears and apples. Is suitable, but difficult to use for soft and extremely fragile fruits and vegetables such as peaches and tomatoes.
For this reason, it is not a pulp mold tray, but it can be used for soft and vulnerable fruits and vegetables such as peaches and tomatoes. In addition, fruit trays have been developed in which the outer layer has a two-layer structure in which a shape-retaining resin layer is used (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP-A-10-77600 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-255541 JP-A-7-125782

As described above, cushioning materials such as corrugated cardboard sheets are inserted between the trays, and the tray that accommodates the fruits is heavy in weight, so the center in the longitudinal direction of the tray tends to bend downward, preventing its bending. However, it is necessary to attach a cardboard pad for preventing deflection to the inner bottom surface of the case so as not to damage the fruit.
However, as described above, attaching the corrugated cardboard sheets between the trays of each step has a problem that the packaging material cost and the transportation cost are increased, and the packaging work efficiency is lowered.

In the shipment of fruits, a standard weight for one case is generally determined, and the number of storing recesses in the tray for fruits and so that the selected fruits having the same weight and size are stored in the same case. Although the opening diameter is set, the shape and the diameter are not constant even if the fruits have substantially the same weight, and the diameter varies depending on the kind of the fruits. Therefore, even if it is a multi-layer tray using a flexible material on the surface in contact with the fruit, or a tray provided with a gap or cushioning material at the bottom of the storage recess, the opening cannot absorb the difference in fruit diameter. Insufficient response to variations in shape and size of fruits.
Therefore, for example, if the diameter of the fruit is smaller than the opening diameter of the storage concave portion of the tray, the fruit in the storage concave portion is unstable and moves during transportation, or rotates and rubs the epidermis. Moreover, when the diameter of the fruit is larger than the opening diameter, there is a disadvantage that the concave portion of the tray and the fruit are locally contacted by vibration during transportation, and the fruit is pressed and hurt.

  In view of the problems of the prior art as described above, the present invention reduces pulping material costs and transportation costs when transporting and shipping fruits and vegetables, and is a buffer for a pulp mold having a high buffering function that can maintain the quality of fruits and vegetables for a long period of time. The purpose is to provide a tray.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes the following inventions.
(1) In a pulp mold tray having a plurality of storage recesses, a slit-shaped opening along an edge of the storage recess is provided in a bank body section that partitions adjacent storage recesses, and the storage recess is formed as the opening. A buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables, characterized in that it can be deformed within the opening range.
(2) In a pulp mold tray having a plurality of storage recesses, a slit-shaped opening is provided on the inner surface of the storage recess, and the storage recess is formed so as to be deformable within an opening range of the opening. Buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables.
(3) In a tray made of pulp mold having a plurality of storage recesses, a slit-shaped opening along an edge of the storage recess is provided in a bank body part that divides adjacent storage recesses, and a slit-shaped opening is formed on the inner surface of the storage recess. A buffer tray for fruit and vegetables packaging, wherein an opening is provided and the storage recess is formed to be deformable within an opening range of the opening.
(4) Either of (2) or (3), wherein the slit-like opening provided on the inner surface of the storage recess is provided so as to radiate from the center of the storage recess toward the edge. A buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables according to item 1.
(5) The buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the opening width of the slit-shaped opening is 1 to 5 mm.

The tray of the present invention is used by storing fruits such as pears and apples in a storage recess. In that case, since the slit-shaped opening part along the edge of the said storage recessed part is provided in the bank body part of the storage recessed part, the said opening part can deform | transform (shrinkable) within the opening range. Therefore, even if there is a slight variation in the shape, diameter, etc. of the fruit to be stored, the slit-shaped opening is deformed so that the storage recess absorbs the variation, such as the diameter of the fruit, and has a contact area with the fruit surface. In addition, the holding force is increased, which has the effect that the fruit can be stored without being moved by vibration during transportation.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, among the selected fruits, the fruit C having a large diameter is caused to slightly expand and deform the storage recess 2 by contracting and deforming the slit-shaped opening 5 provided in the bank portion. Thus, the fruit C is stored in a state of being held in the storage recess 2. In addition, among the selected fruits, the small-diameter fruits are in a state where the inner surface of the storage recess is in elastic contact with the fruit surface, and the fruits can be stored without fear of floating.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, since the tray of the present invention is provided with the slit-like opening 5b on the inner surface of the storage recess 2a, the storage recess can be deformed within the opening range of the opening. Therefore, even if there is a slight variation in the shape, diameter, etc. of the fruit D to be stored, the slit-like opening 5b is deformed, so that the storage recess 2a is also slightly expanded and deformed to absorb the fruit diameter, etc. And can be stored without problems.
In the present invention, the slit-like opening is desirably 1 to 5 mm in width. If the width is less than 1 mm, sufficient buffering properties may not be exhibited. If it exceeds 5 mm, the tray strength may be reduced.

As described above, the tray of the present invention is provided when the slit-shaped opening is deformed while the slit-shaped opening is provided on the inner surface of the bank-shaped recess or the inner surface of the storage recess to slightly expand and deform the storage recess. Due to the spring-like action that occurs, it is possible to elastically hold the contents such as fruits, prevent the contents from moving freely, and reduce the occurrence of fruit surface damage or the like.
Moreover, the freshness of the fruit can be maintained by the breathable hygroscopicity of the pulp mold. Furthermore, when the fruit is stored in the storage recess, the conventional tray tends to bend downward in the longitudinal center of the tray due to the fruit weight. Therefore, the use of the cushioning material and the auxiliary material for preventing deformation can be omitted, the packaging cost can be reduced, and the packaging work efficiency can be improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a pulp mold tray of the present invention. The raw material used is not particularly limited as long as it is a cellulosic material, but wood pulp, especially waste paper pulp, is preferable in terms of cost. Further, the pulp mold tray of the present invention may have a multi-layered structure having two or more layers. For example, the layer in contact with the contents is soft, and the outer layer can have strength.
As an example, the tray 1 has a large number of hemispherical storage recesses 2 formed on the upper surface for storing fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, peaches, and tomatoes, but the storage recesses 2 need to be hemispherical. There is no. The arrangement and number of the storage recesses are determined by the weight and size of the fruits and vegetables to be stored. For example, the storage recesses 2 having a size set appropriately can be packed in the same plane, for example, from 2 to 24. , It can be manufactured by changing its arrangement and number. For example, in the case of packing 18 pieces, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, two rows of 5 rows and 2 rows of 4 rows may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the tray in a substantially rectangular plane. .
Adjacent storage recesses 2 are separated by a bank body portion 3 provided at the boundary between the storage recesses 2 and 2. Further, a slit-like opening 5 is formed in the bank body portion 3 along the opening edge 4 of the storage recess 2.
The slit-shaped opening 5 does not need to be provided completely through the tray 1 in the thickness direction. That is, when the tray has a multi-layered structure having two or more layers, it is possible to provide a slit-like opening portion (not shown) leaving a thin skin. Needless to say, leaving a thin skin improves the cosmetics because the tray is not perforated.
Although not shown in the figure, in a state of use, a tray filled with contents such as fruits can be stacked and packed in a packaging container such as cardboard.

  The action of the tray in which the slit-shaped opening is formed will be described a little more. When storing the contents such as fruit in the storage recess 2, if the size of the fruit C to be stored is slightly larger than the opening diameter of the storage recess 2, the bank body portion 3 along the opening edge 4 of the storage recess 2. When the slit-like opening 5 provided in the container is contracted, the storage recess 2 is enlarged and deformed to a shape close to the shape of the contents, and can be stored without problems even when the fruit size is slightly larger. In addition, the contact area between the contents surface and the inner surface of the storage recess is increased, so that the content is less likely to move in the storage recess. In short, the slit-shaped opening is provided to compensate for variations in the outer dimensions of fruits and the like and the dimensions of the storage recesses of the tray (see FIG. 5).

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables of the present invention. In this embodiment, several slit-like openings 6 are opened radially from the center to the edge 4a on the inner surface of the storage recess 2a of the tray 1.
In this example, when the fruit is filled in the storage recess 2a, the radial slit-shaped opening 6 formed on the inner surface of the storage recess is deformed outward when the size of the contents is slightly larger than the opening diameter of the storage recess. By doing so, the contact area between the contents surface and the tray wall surface increases, and the holding power increases. This prevents the contents from moving in the tray. In addition, since most of the fruits are not perfect circles but are distorted, the storage recess is deformed along the contents by the slit-shaped opening, and the storage recess elastically holds the contents (FIG. 6). reference).

  FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the buffer tray of the present invention. In this example, a slit-like opening 5b along the opening edge 4b is formed in the bank body portion 3b provided at the boundary between the adjacent storage recesses 2b, 2b in the tray 1, and the center is formed on the inner surface of the storage recess 2b. Several slit-shaped openings 6b are formed radially from the portion toward the edge 4b.

The perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the buffer tray for fruit and vegetables packaging of this invention. FIG. The top view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the tray of this invention. The top view which shows 3rd Embodiment of the tray of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the state by which the slit-shaped opening provided in the bank body part was shrink | contracted. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which the slit-shaped opening provided in the accommodation recessed part inner surface expanded.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Buffer tray 2, 2a, 2b Storage recessed part 3, 3b Bank body part 4, 4a, 4b Opening edge part 5, 5b Slit-like opening part 6, 6b Slit-like opening part

Claims (5)

  In a pulp mold tray having a plurality of storage recesses, a slit-shaped opening along an edge of the storage recess is provided in a bank body section that divides adjacent storage recesses, and the storage recess is defined as an opening range of the opening. A buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables characterized in that it can be deformed inside.   A pulp mold tray having a plurality of storage recesses, wherein the storage recesses are provided with slit-like openings, and the storage recesses are formed so as to be deformable within the opening range of the openings. Buffer tray for use.   In a pulp mold tray having a plurality of storage recesses, a slit-shaped opening along the edge of the storage recess is provided in the bank body part that partitions adjacent storage recesses, and a slit-shaped opening is provided on the inner surface of the storage recess. A buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables, wherein the storage recess is formed to be deformable within the opening range of the opening.   The slit-shaped opening provided on the inner surface of the storage recess is provided so as to radiate from the center of the storage recess toward the edge. Buffer tray for packaging fruits and vegetables.   The buffer tray for fruit and vegetables packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an opening width of the slit-shaped opening is 1 to 5 mm.

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