Packaging
AssigneeApio, Inc.
InventorsRaymond Clarke, Nicholas J Tompkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Atmosphere control members (ACMs) are used in various ways. In one aspect, at least one of the atmospheres in contact with the ACM is caused 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. 3-5 illustrate a shipping container 11 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 2 to which gases can be supplied in a controlled fashion.
Claims19
A method of increasing the concentration of a gas in a first atmosphere and decreasing the concentration of said gas in a second atmosphere, the method comprising
- (A) providing an atmosphere control member (ACM) having first and second surfaces;
- and
- (B) placing the first atmosphere adjacent to the first surface and the second atmosphere adjacent to the second surface, the first and second atmospheres containing different proportions of said gas
- wherein
- (1) the first atmosphere is a packaging atmosphere within a sealed container which comprises the ACM and which contains a respiring biological material, the packaging atmosphere being in direct contact with the respiring biological material and in direct contact with the first surface of the ACM, and
- (2) at least one of the first and second atmospheres flows over the surface of the ACM.
An assembly which comprises
- (1) a refrigerated container which has a volume of at least 1 m3 and within which refrigerated air circulates,
- (2) a sealed container which (i) is within the refrigerated container, (ii) contains a respiring biological material which is contacted by a packaging atmosphere and (iii) comprises an atmosphere control member (ACM) having a first surface which is in contact with the packaging atmosphere and a second surface which is in contact with the refrigerated air which circulates within the refrigerated container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.