WO2017039450A1

WO2017039450A1 - Tray for storage, transport and/or display of products, such as fruit and vegetables, and a method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2017039450A1
Application number: PCT/NL2016/050614
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erwin Peter VAN DER WAL
Original assignee: Huhtamaki Molded Fiber Technology BV
Current assignee: Huhtamaki Molded Fiber Technology BV
Priority date: 2015-09-03
Filing date: 2016-09-02
Publication date: 2017-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-03

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tray for storage and transport of products, such as food products including apples, pears, kiwi's, tomatoes, melons, stone fruits, and avocados. Such trays are used for crate & box packaging, transportation and safe storage, and preferably enable retail display of fruits. In a preferred embodiment the tray for storage and transport of products comprises: - a number of pocket cells for individual products; and - an outer edge or ridge extending around substantially the entire circumference of the tray.

Description

Tray for storage, transport and/or display of products, such as fruit and vegetables, and a method therefor

The present invention relates to a tray for storage and transport of products, such as perishable products such as vegetable products and fruit products including apples, pears, kiwi's, tomatoes, melons, stone fruits, and avocados. Such trays are used for crate and box packaging, transportation and safe storage, and preferably enable retail display of fruits, for example.

Fruit trays are known from practice to carry fruits. Such fruit tray is disclosed in AU 2006101010, wherein a tray with cells for individual products is shown, with the cells being configured in a number of rows and columns.

Conventional fruit trays have to provide sufficient strength and enable effective handling of products, specifically fruit. Typically, fruits are very sensitive to product damage, storage and transport conditions. This may influence storage and shelf life of the products possibly resulting in product loss and spillage.

An object of the invention is to obviate or at least reduce some of the above problems and to enable effective storage, transport and/or display of products, specifically perishable products such as fruit and vegetables, and minimizing product damage and product loss or spillage.

This object is achieved with a tray for storage, transport and/or display of products, wherein the tray comprising:

- a number of pocket cells for individual products; and

an outer edge or ridge extending around substantially the entire circumference of the tray.

By providing an outer edge or ridge that extends around substantially the entire circumference and preferably around the entire circumference the strength and stability of the tray is improved. In addition, this enables providing a similar strength and stability for the tray requiring less material, thereby rendering the storage, transport and/or display of products more efficient.

In a preferred embodiment the outer edge or ridge extends with a height in the range of 0.5-5 mm from the tray. This contributes to the strength and stability of the tray. For example, the tray according to the invention has an improved flatness as compared to conventional trays. Also, the tray has tidier edges. This provides an improved visual appearance for a consumer and improves handling of the trays. In addition, in case of stacked trays of products, the tray according to a preferred embodiment of the invention improves apple locking between adjacent layers on corners of the tray. This also improves further handling of the trays.

In a presently preferred embodiment the circumference of the tray is provided with a radius at transitions and corners in the circumference of the tray. By providing a radius at the corners and/or transitions in the circumference of the tray additional strength and stability are provided to the tray. Distribution of forces that act on the tray are better distributed. Furthermore, in a presently preferred embodiment of the tray, a weight reduction is achieved. This reduces costs of the tray and contributes to an effective and efficient handling of products.

Also, providing the radius in a tray according to the present invention improves the ease to fit the tray in a box. This renders the loading and unloading of the trays in a box more efficient. Furthermore, this contributes to preventing the products to be damaged during handling.

Furthermore, by preventing corners and sharp edges in the circumference of the tray in one of the presently preferred embodiments thereof an improved cooling performance is achieved. This results in perishable products, such as fruit and vegetables to be cooled faster to the desired temperature for storage, transport and/or display. This significantly improves shelf life of the products, and may contribute to a reduction in product loss or spillage.

Experiments have shown an improved air flow between layers of trays with products in a box in a substantial vertical direction, and an improved forced draft through the box in a substantial horizontal direction. Such improved air flow(s) improve product cooling. In fact, heat transfer from the products to the air by convection is significantly improved. This results in a faster cooling process for the products, thereby achieving a longer shelf -life.

In addition, providing corners of the tray with a radius results in a reduction in weight. This improves the cost efficiency of manufacturing the tray. Furthermore, this weight reduction also contributes to reducing transport costs.

In a presently preferred embodiment the products and pocket cells are provided in rows in the tray. Preferably, the rows have a centreline that extends in the longitudinal direction of the row and centrelines of adjacent rows are provided at a distance that is smaller than the average product size, such as the average product diameter. Therefore, products are alternately placed as seen in longitudinal direction of the rows. This increases the number of products that can be placed in the tray. Furthermore, this improves contact between the product and the gas flow, thereby improving conditioning possibilities. This contributes to achieving a longer shelf-life.

The tray according to the invention can be used for different purposes, as was mentioned before. The products that can be placed in or on the tray preferably are perishable products such as fruit and vegetables, including apples, pears, kiwi's, tomatoes, melons, stone fruits, and avocados.

In a presently preferred embodiment the single tray is capable of carrying about 4.8 kg of products, such as apples of different varieties. This may vary by fruit size.

In a presently preferred embodiment the tray is provided with a radius of at least 10 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, and most preferably at least 30 mm. Such radius provides a smooth circumference omitting corners, specifically sharp corners from the tray. This further enhances weight reduction of the tray and/or cooling performance of a tray and a stack of tray with products, specifically perishable products.

In addition, providing a radius, especially an improved radius, improves the ease to fit the tray into a box or container.

The cooling performance is improved with a tray according to an embodiment of the present invention as more air is provided around the product thereby enabling faster cooling and/or requiring less cooling energy. For example, a reduction of energy required for cooling the products of about 4% was achieved.

Weight reduction reduces the amount of raw material that is required. This provides a cost effective tray. In addition, drying energy is reduced in the manufacturing process of the tray. This also contributes to providing a cost effective tray.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention so-called finger holes that are often provided in conventional trays are omitted from the tray. This improves cooling performance.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention ribs of conventional tray have been removed and are replaced with an NFnrB on the side of the tray. This contributes to improving the strength of the tray.

In a further preferred embodiment of the tray according to the present invention the configuration of the tray enables improved stacking. Especially the tray interlock allows for better transport efficiency.

In a presently preferred embodiment the tray is manufactured from a fibre material, preferably a moulded fibre material.

The tray according to the invention can be manufactured from numerous materials and mixtures thereof, including moulded fibre, cotton fibre, coconut fibre, wood pulp, and plant fibre including fibres originating from grasses, plastics, foam including foamed moulded fibre. In a presently preferred embodiment the tray is manufactured from a moulded fibre material that at least partly originates from recycled waste such as recycled paper. In another preferred

embodiment the tray comprises fibres originating from biological material, such as bamboo, grass and the like. Combinations of materials are also possible.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention the tray comprises holes configured for enabling a gas flow through the tray.

By providing holes a gas flow is enabled through the tray, i.e. in a substantially vertical direction from the bottom side to the top side of the tray. Preferably, the holes comprise a substantially horizontal opening configured for enabling a substantially vertical gas flow through the tray. This provides additional conditioning possibilities for the products in the tray. For example, product cooling can be performed faster. When transporting or storing perishable products this increases shelf life of these products. Preferably, the vertical gas flow through the holes is used in combination with a substantial horizontal gas flow between stacked trays to improve product conditioning.

It will be understood that a combination of features that are described in this application is possible and are included in a presently preferred embodiment of the tray according to the invention.

The invention further relates to a method for storing, transporting and/or displaying products, such as fruits, comprising the step of providing a tray as described and/or shown in this application, and placing products in the pocket cells.

The same effects and advantages apply for the method for storing, transporting and/or displaying as described for the tray. More specifically, the method according to the invention provides a tray that is easier to load and unload, has a lower weight, and is more stable as compared to conventional trays. In addition, air flow paths for a stack of trays have been improved, resulting in an improved cooling performance, i.e. a faster cool downtime for the products.

The invention further also relates to a method manufacturing a tray as described and/or shown in this application for storing, transporting and/or displaying products, such as fruits.

The same effects and advantages apply for the method as described for the tray.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- figures 1-2 show an embodiment of a tray according to the present invention;

figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment according to the present invention; and figure 4 shown a further alternative embodiment according to the present invention. Tray 2 (figures 1 and 2) is provided with length L, width W and height H. Tray 2 comprises a number of pocket cells 4, also referred to as cells, accommodations or compartments. Cells 4 are capable of holding individual products P. Cells 4 are provided in rows 6 and columns 8. Tray 2 is provided with edge or ridge 10 around its circumference C. Edge 10 is provided with height h extending above the surface area of tray 2.

Tray 2 further comprises nocks 12 and groove of channel elements 14 contributing to the strength of tray 2 and providing denesting measures. Adjacent cells 4 are separated by bridging or transition elements 16. Pockets have a depth dj and element 16 leaves a distance d₂ open. In the illustrated embodiment distance d₂ is equal to height H, minus height h of edge 10, and minus depth dj of pocket 4. Element 16 provides flexibility to deal with variations in product dimensions and/or product varieties.

In the illustrated embodiment circumference C is provided with a two curved transitions 18 at two corners E₂ of tray 2, and with two product shaped curves 20 at the two other corners Ej of tray 2. Sides 22a,b extending in length direction of tray 2 are substantially straight and short sides 24a,b extending in width direction of tray 2 are curved with curves Gi and G₂ acting as hand grips that preferably resemble the product shape.

The use of rows 6 and columns 8 provides ridges 26 that provide additional strength to tray

2.

Tray 102 with an alternative configuration (figure 3) comprises more pockets cells 104 in rows 106 and columns 108 as the earlier described configuration that is shown in figures 1 and 2. Tray 102 provides 25 pocket cells 104, while tray 2 provides 20 pocket cells 4 per tray. Tray 102 further comprises similar features as tray 2 shown in figures 1 and 2.

Tray 202 (figure 4) comprises holes 204 as additional features. Holes 204 enable an additional air flow that improves conditioning of products in tray 202.

It will be understood that features of trays 2, 102, 202 can be combined in further embodiments and/or can be exchanged between different embodiments also resulting in further embodiment according to the invention.

For transport or storage of product P, pockets 4 of individual trays 2, 102, 202 are provided with products P. Next, trays 2 are stacked and transported and/or stored. In use, adjacent trays 2,

102, 202 in a stack or box are placed in a different orientation. In a vertical direction, sides 24a,b of adjacent trays 2, 102, 202 are alternately placed to improve storage and transport efficiency.

Manufacturing tray 2, 102. 202 preferably involves a moulded operation with a moulded fiber material.

Trays 2, 102, 202 can be provided with different dimensions. An example is a tray with

L=480 mm, W=310 mm and W=25 mm. It will be understood that also other dimensions can be envisaged in accordance with the invention.

Experiments have been performed with the aforementioned trays. The experiments showed a 4% reduction in horizontal area of the tray. This achieves an increase of the heat transfer from the product to the air by convection of about 4%. Furthermore, the improved pocket sizes allow for better positioning of the products.

Further experiments showed a reduction in cool downtime for the products on the tray. In the experiments apples were used.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred

embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.

Claims

1. Tray for storage, transport and/or display of products, wherein the tray comprising:

- a number of pocket cells for individual products; and

- an outer edge or ridge extending around substantially the entire circumference of the tray.

2. Tray according to claim 1 , wherein the outer edge or ridge extends with a height in the range of 0.5-5 mm from the tray.

3. Tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circumference is provided with a radius at transitions and corners of the tray.

4. Tray according to claim 3, wherein the radius is at least 10 mm, preferably at least 20 mm, and most preferably at least 30 mm.

5. Tray according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the tray is manufactured from a fibre material.

6. Tray according to claim 5, wherein the tray is manufactured from a moulded fibre material.

7. Tray according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the pocket cells are provided in rows having a centreline extending in a longitudinal direction of the row, and wherein the centrelines of adjacent rows are provided at a distance smaller than an average product size.

8. Tray according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the tray further comprises holes configured for enabling a gas flow through the tray.

9. Tray according to claim 8, wherein the holes comprise a substantially horizontal opening configured for enabling a substantially vertical gas flow through the tray.

10. Method for storage, transport and/or display of products, comprising the step of providing a tray according to one or more of the foregoing claims, and placing a product in the pocket cell.

11. Method according to claim 9, wherein the products are fruit products.

12. Method for manufacturing a tray according to one or more of the claims 1-9.