NL2033832B1

NL2033832B1 - Package for preserving respiring produce and method

Info

Publication number: NL2033832B1
Application number: NL2033832A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Willem De Bruin Martijn; Rinke Antony Groeneweg Bastiaan
Original assignee: Perfo Tec B V
Priority date: 2022-12-23
Filing date: 2022-12-23
Publication date: 2024-07-05
Also published as: WO2024133972A2; WO2024133972A3

Abstract

A method of packaging one or more palletized containers of respiring produce as a controlled atmosphere package (CAP package) is provided. The method comprises: providing a cover to the one or more containers determining a package atmosphere by winding multiple layers of film at least partly onto each other about the one or more containers with respect to an axis. The method further comprises controlling a transmission rate of the cover for the one or more atmosphere modification gases, such as one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and ethylene, by controlling a winding pattern, in particular a winding pitch, of the film about the axis. A package (50) and an apparatus are also provided.

Description

35410-Fe/bk

Package for preserving respiring produce and method

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method of packaging respiring produce, such as fresh agricultural produce, e.g. one or more of vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, in particular whole-sale batches of such produce, e.g. palletised packages such as boxes or crates.

BACKGROUND

Shelf life of natural products is of interest to producers, sellers, re-sellers and consumers alike. In the case of food stuffs, like vegetables, fruit, herbs and/or spices, taste, flavour, ripeness and/or structural properties (e.g. firmness) are particularly relevant, as well as inhibiting decay processes and/or growth of pathogens.

In the case of flowers, particular concern is the so-called vase life, the time cut flowers and/or flowers in a bouquet retain acceptably pleasing appearance and/or fragrance on display. Typically, the vase life is a few days up to about two weeks at most. Shelf life and vase life are affected by initial produce quality and by conditions of storage and/or transport.

Natural produce such as flowers, vegetables, fruits and/or herbs tend to respire after being harvested, involving inter alia to a consumption of oxygen and a generation of carbon dioxide. The respiration continues for prolonged periods, in particular if the produce has undergone little to no processing, e.g. having been washed and possibly peeled and/or chopped up, but otherwise fresh and uncooked. When such produce is packaged, the atmosphere within the package is affected by the respiring produce. Conversely, an atmosphere surrounding natural produce affects the respiration, maturation, aging and/or deterioration of the packed produce.

It has therefore become customary to package fresh produce in packages with a modified atmosphere (Modified Atmosphere Packaging or “MAP”). In MAP the produce is packaged in a closed cover, and an artificial gas mixture can be used to establish a distinct interior atmosphere in the package, which may however change later on due to the respiration of the packed produce. Also or alternatively, the composition of the package atmosphere can be controlled by adapting transmission of the closed cover to control exchange with an exterior atmosphere outside the package, e.g. by perforating the cover material; this is called Controlled Atmosphere Packaging or “CAP”.

MAP and CAP may preserve produce quality by reducing the aerobic respiration rate while avoiding anaerobic processes that may lead to adverse changes, e.g. in one or more of colour, texture, flavour and aroma.

Another aspect of fresh and/or respiring produce is, on the one hand, the production of water vapour by the produce and, on the other hand, sensitivity to humidity by the produce and/or live contaminants (e.g. microbes, insects, parasites, fungi, ...). Therefore, it is preferred that humidity of the atmosphere inside a package is controlled.

Modified- and/or controlled atmosphere packaging of large volumes of respiring produce, such as wholesale amounts, has so far proven problematic, due to the fact that, when increasing the amount of produce to be packed, the package volume increases to the third power whereas surface area increases only quadratically. Also, customs officers may need to be able to inspect the contents of the package. Presently known methods for transforming palletized containers of produce into a Modified- and/or

Controlled Atmosphere Package require individual packaging of the containers, e.g. as disclosed in WO 2017/220801, or have proven unsatisfactory, e.g. for one or more of requiring specific apparatus, being expensive, being cumbersome, and being nonworking. Some examples thereof are described in US 4,886,372, WO 2020/018958, and WO 2021/138602.

Further, in practice, produce that is transported in such volumes in packaged stage must be at least partly unpacked (or at least the cover must be opened) as soon as possible after arrival and/or at transit stations to prevent decay in view of insufficient atmosphere control. This costs effort and leads to packaging material waste.

Improvements are therefore desired.

SUMMARY

In view of the above herewith is provided a method of packaging one or more palletized containers of respiring produce as a controlled atmosphere package (CAP package) comprising:

providing a cover to the one or more containers determining a package atmosphere by winding multiple layers of film at least partly onto each other about the one or more containers with respect to an axis.

The method comprises controlling a transmission rate of the cover for the one or more atmosphere modification gases, such as one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and ethylene, by controlling a winding pattern, in particular a winding pitch, of the film about the axis.

Thus a CAP package containing an amount of produce in the containers is provided, the wound film providing the cover.

The package defines the package atmosphere in the cover. The package atmosphere may become modified with respect to the ambient atmosphere outside of the package, due at least in part to the respiration of the respiring produce.

By controlling the transmission rate of the cover, the package atmosphere and/or variations therein may be controlled, at least to some extent. Therewith, biological processes like ripening and/or decay of the produce inside the package may be reduced. Thus, in the method the wound containers are formed into a CAP package, the cover determining the package atmosphere in the package. The package atmosphere is at least partly controlled by the cover.

The method may comprise determining a transmission rate of the film for one or more atmosphere modification gases. The determination may comprise one or more of measuring and/or adjusting the transmission rate, as explained in more detail elsewhere in this disclosure .

The transmission rate of the cover may be controlled in dependence of one or more of type of produce, amount of produce, headspace of the packaged produce, storage temperature, etc. measured respiration values of the produce such as one or more of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, moisture production, ethylene production, and one or more ratios and/or combinations thereof. Thus, the winding pattern may be controlled to control the transmission rate; e.g. controlling the winding pattern based on one or more of type of produce, amount of produce, headspace of the packaged produce, storage temperature, measured respiration values of the produce.

In particular, a desired package atmosphere may comprise an oxygen level of less than 15%, preferably in a range 5-15%, preferably in a range 7-12%, e.g.

about 10% (which may apply in particular for fruit), and/or a carbon dioxide level of less than 15%, preferably less than 10%, such as less than 5% (which may apply in particular for flowers). Such package atmosphere may be desired as an equilibrium value or asymptotic value associated with prolonged storage. Also or alternatively, one or more compositions of the desired package atmosphere may be established directly after packaging by providing an artificial gas mixture to establish a modified atmosphere within the package (being) formed in accordance with the desired composition of the package atmosphere in the package.

The film may be a polymer film. The polymer may substantially be a co- polymer of a thermoharder and a thermoplast, commonly known as a thermoplastomere; and/or may substantially be a block copolymer. The block copolymer may comprise hard segments and soft segments. The film may consist of a polyether- ester block copolymer or a blend of polyether-ester block copolymers. The hard segments may substantially be a polyester (e.g. polybutylene terephtalate “PBT"); the soft segments may substantially be one or more of polyether, polyester, polycarbonate; any or all of which may be renewable.

A suitable polyether-ester block copolymer for use in the invention may be a polyether-ester wherein the polyether can for example be polyethylene oxide (PEO), polypropylene oxide (PPO) or poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO), or combinations or copolymers thereof. The polyesters in the polyether- ester can for example be polyethylene terephtalate (PET), polybutylene terephtalate (PBT), polyethylene naphtanoate (PEN) or polybutylene naphtanoate (PBN) or combinations or copolymers of any of them. Preferably PET or PBT is used. More preferably PBT is used. Part of the polyether in the polyether-ester copolymer can be replaced by polysiloxane segment or dimer fatty acid segment. The polyether-ester block copolymers can be branched. The amount of polyether compared to the amount polyester in the polyether- ester can be varied freely, as long as the requirements regarding gas permeability and water permeability as described above are met. The amount polyether can for example be between 20 and 75 wt% of the polyether-ester. Preferably the amount polyether is between 25 and 65 wt%, more preferably between 30 and 60 wt%. In case part of the polyether is replaced by polysiloxane or dimer fatty acid, the amount given here for polyether includes the amount for polysiloxane and/ or dimer fatty acid. The sum of the amount of polyether and polyester blocks adds up to 100%.

A preferred polyether-ester has PBT as polyester and PTMO or a

PEO/PPO copolymer as polyether. A preferred polyether- ester of this type has between 40 and 75 wt% PBT as polyester and between 60 and 25 wt% PTMO or PEO/PPO copolymer as polyether. A more preferred polyether-ester has PBT as polyester and 5 PEO/PPO copolymer as polyether. A most preferred polyether-ester has PBT as polyester and a PPO-endcapped PEO copolymer as polyether.

In a particular embodiment, the polyetherester contains 55 wt% polyether: polyethyleneoxide endcapped polypropyleneoxide and 45 wt% polyester: PBT.

The film may have one or more of an oxygen transmission rate OTR of higher than 4.000 ml/m2.day; a carbon dioxide transmission rate COTR of higher than 20.000 ml/m?.day, preferably higher than 100.000 ml/m2.day, e.g. higher than 250.000 ml/m?2.day; aratio B = COTR / OTR larger than 4,0, preferably larger than 5,0 more preferably larger than 7,0, e.g. larger than 8,0 such as larger than 10, or larger than 15; in some cases a ratio B of larger than 20 may be preferred (in particular for flowers); and a water vapour transmission rate WVTR of higher than 1.000 ml/m2?.day, preferably higher than 2.000 ml/m2.day, e.g. higher than 3.000 ml/m?.day.

Herein, the Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) of the film is determined in accordance with ASTM D3985 2556 (coulometric method) at a test temperature of 23°C; the Carbon Dioxide Transmission Rate (COTR) of the film is determined in accordance with ISO 2556 (manometric method) at a test temperature of 23°C; and the

Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR) of the film is determined in accordance with

ISO 2528 (gravimetric method) at a test temperature of 38°C and a relative humidity of 90% rH.

In (MAP and CAP) packaging of respiring produce, water vapour and carbon dioxide levels are found to be most relevant for produce quality and quality maintenance (e.g. shelf life); the combination may in particular be decisive. An increased COTR and in particular an increased WVTR facilitates reduction of decay, and growth of bacteria and/or fungi. It is desired that water vapour level and carbon dioxide level in the package atmosphere can be minimised while inflow of oxygen can be controlled so as to maintain a desired oxygen level in the package atmosphere, in particular in the above-referenced range of < 15% or 5-15%.

The film may be stretchable, the stretching may adjust one or more of the respective transmission rates compared to unstretched film, see also below.

At least part of the film may be transparent which may allow visual inspection of the produce.

The winding may ensure that the different layers contact each other, preferably cling onto each other, and provide a substantially gastight connection, to promote or ensure that the transmission rate of the cover is determined by the transmission rate of the film layers.

The film may be treated, e.g. be moisturized and/or rendered electrostatic to provide and/or improve clinging of the film onto itself.

The palletized containers may contain a wholesale amount of the produce, e.g. comprising a plurality of retail amounts and/or a plurality of consumer amounts. The containers may comprise one or more boxes and/or crates and/or other stackable containers. One or more containers may itself contain a wholesale amount of the produce. Hence, the package may be a wholesale package. The package may have typical volume in a range of about 0,5-3,5 cubic metres, in particular in a range of about 0,8-3,2 m3, such as in a range of about 1,4-2,5 m3.

One or more of the containers may be substantially open, e.g. open boxes and/or trays and/or crates; the containers may substantially be of e.g. cardboard, polymer, metal, glass, or other suitable material. The containers may preferably be stacked on each other without a higher container contacting and/or resting on the produce of a container underneath, protecting the produce.

The film may be polymeric film. The film may cling onto itself. The film may be wound elastically deformable so that the film tightly encloses the containers. The winding as such may conform to packaging of wholesale batches of produce known per se, which may improve acceptance of the presently provided method and apparatus.

Controlling the winding pattern may comprise controlling a winding pitch about the axis. In particular, the winding may comprise winding at least part of the film in a helical pattern about the axis, and the controlling may comprise controlling a winding pitch thereof.

By controlling a winding pitch, a winding pattern may be reliably determined. The winding pitch may be controlled in terms of absolute sizes, e.g. milli- or centimetres difference per partial or full turn; an angle to a radial-, tangential-, and/or axial direction. The winding pitch may be controlled in terms of relative sizes such as one or more of a width of at least a portion of the film, an amount of overlap of one winding turn onto a next winding turn, a number of overlapping layers etc. Relative sizes may be preferred.

The controlling may comprise varying a pattern and/or pitch of the winding along the axis. In particular, in case of a helical pattern, an amount of overlap of successive turns may be determined. Multiple helical patterns may be overlaid onto each other possibly with different pitches providing the desired cover. A difference between pitches may include changing helicity about the axis, e.g. inverting a winding angle between “winding up” and “winding down”, which may provide crossing turns.

Multiple helical patterns may be overlaid onto each other, possibly with different pitches and/or differently varying pitches, providing the desired cover.

By varying the winding pitch along the axis and/or by using multiple helical patterns overlaid onto each other, in particular helical patterns having mutually different pitches, local variations of the transmission rate of the cover may be provided. This may accommodate local differences in one or more of presence, absence, increase (e.g. accumulation, generation, etc.), and decrease (e.g. consumption, reaction, decay, etc.) of (a concentration of) an atmosphere modification gas.

The controlling the transmission rate may comprise controlling the winding pitch to provide the cover with a first portion having a first number of layers of the film and a second portion having a second number of layers of the film, and controlling a surface area of the first portion (“first portion surface area”) and a surface area of the second number of layers (“second portion surface area”) to control the transmission rate of the cover; more portions with mutually different numbers of layers may be provided and their respective surface areas being controlled. In particular, the controlling the transmission rate may comprise controlling the winding pitch to provide the cover with one or more multilayer portions and one or more monolayer portions of the film and controlling a surface area of the one or more multilayer portions (so that a “first (or second) portion surface area” may be referred to as “multilayer surface area”) and a surface area of the one or more monolayer portions (so that a “second (or first) portion surface area” may be referred to as “monolayer surface area”). Then, whereas at the monolayer portions the cover is provided by a single layer of the film, the one or more multilayer portions may be two-layer portions and/or comprise more than two layers of the film wound over each other.

The transmission rate of the cover may then be determined by a ratio of the first and second portion surfaces areas (and accordingly: third, fourth, etc. portion surface areas where applicable). E.g. in case of monolayer and multilayer areas, possibly primarily being determined by the monolayer surface area. E.g. a single helical monolayer portion and a single helical multilayer portion may be determined on the basis of an overlap between successive turns about the axis. The monolayer portion may have a varying width in axial direction.

The transmission rate of one or more (first, second, ...) portion surface areas, e.g. the multilayer surface area, may be negligible compared to (that of) one or more different portion surface areas, e.g. the monolayer surface area, or it may be not negligible. In the latter case a contribution to the transmission rate of the/each respective portion surface area may be determined and included in the controlling of the transmission rate of the cover, accounting for the transmission rate of each portion surface area, in particular each nonnegligible portion surface area.

The one or more palletized containers comprise a pallet on which the one or more containers are arranged. The pallet may conform to any suitable standard, e.g. a Euro-Pallet, USA Export pallet, AUS pallet, UK export pallet, Asian export pallet. Solid deck (or: closed deck) pallets and/or nestable pallets may also be used.

The pallet may also at least partly be wound with one or more layers of film. This may fortify the assembly comprising the produce and the pallet. Also or alternatively, by winding the film about at least part of the pallet the package atmosphere may be better controlled, in particular if also a transmission rate of the pallet is determined and the controlling of the transmission rate of the cover takes into account the transmission rate of the pallet.

A closed cover may be provided by the film (layers) alone. A portion of the film may be one or more of knotted, taped, clipped, glued, welded, and otherwise fixed to close the cover. Also or alternatively, the one or more containers may be arranged on a lower cover member, e.g. by stacking the one or more containers onto the cover member on the pallet, and/or an upper cover member may be arranged on the containers, e.g. a sheet and/or a hood may be placed over the containers; a hood may be formed by a concave portion of material, e.g. one or more sheet portions arranged box-like. A method comprising (use of) one or more such upper and/or lower cover member(s) may further comprise determining a transmission rate of the cover member(s) for the one or more atmosphere modification gases, and also at least partly winding one or more layers of the film about the cover member(s). As before, the film may be wound over at least part of the cover member(s), e.g. as part of a winding pattern. The cover member(s) may thus form part of the cover to facilitate accurate control over the transmissibility. A transmission rate of the cover member(s) for the one or more atmosphere modification gases may be determined as part of the method. The (at least partly) winding of the film about the cover members may assist controlling the transmission rate of the cover comprising the cover member(s) and the film wound about the produce. A cover member overlaid with a portion of the film may one or more of provide, be equated with, and be equivalent to, a multilayer portion, at least for purposes of controlling the transmission rate of the cover.

Winding at least part of the film about a cover member may assist attaching the cover member. Also or alternatively, a cover member may be placed over a portion of wound film. Preferably, at least part of a cover member is both placed over a portion of wound film and a portion of film is wound about the cover member so that the cover member is arranged (“sandwiched”) between layers of wound film. This may facilitate attachment of the cover member and the film onto each other and/or ensure closing the cover.

The one or more containers of produce may be supported on a tray on the pallet. The tray may define a closed surface with a continuous outer circumference. In such case, the method may also comprise least partly winding one or more layers of the film about the tray. The tray may then form at least part of the cover, e.g. as a lower cover member. A transmission rate of the tray and/or the cover comprising the tray for the one or more atmosphere modification gases may be determined.

The tray may protect the containers against rough structures of the pallet and/or, in particular, may define a closed surface facilitating use of the method with pallets having unsuitably large openings, such as pallets having a deck of beams and/or gratings like Euro-pallets and plastic grid pallets.

The tray may comprise a first portion radially protruding beyond a second portion supporting the first portion. In such case, winding the film about the produce and the tray may facilitate that the film tightly encloses the first portion of the tray and recedes into a space left by the second portion, thus, the cover may be closed by the film being tightly wound about and/or possibly adhering to the tray (see also below).

In particular the first portion may conform to the pallet and/or be pallet- sized, conforming to a pallet onto which the one or more containers are palletised, so as not to extend beyond the pallet when used.

The pallet may have a deck and legs for supporting the deck above a floor. One or more of the legs of a pallet may support the deck on the floor separately, and also or alternatively, some of the legs may be connected with beams so that the beams support the legs on the floor. The deck may protrude laterally beyond the legs when seen normal to the deck, in particular legs in corners of a polygonal pallet, e.g. a rectangular, and possibly square, pallet. Winding a film about the deck of such pallet having a protruding deck facilitates that the film stretches about and partly around (to underneath) the deck, and attaches to the deck.

Also or alternatively a pallet may form a closed surface with a continuous outer circumference; e.g. the deck may form the closed surface, which may be profiled.

Also or alternatively, the deck and legs may form a continuous closed surface such as known for nestable moulded pallets. Use of a pallet forming a closed surface facilitates that the pallet forms part of the cover and possibly forms a lower cover member as referred to above. A transmission rate for one or more atmosphere modification gases may be determined for such closed surface pallet and be suitably accounted for in the controlling of the transmission rate of the cover by the controlling of the winding pattern of the film. Such pallet may obviate use of the above-described tray.

The controlling the transmission rate of the film for one or more atmosphere modification gases may comprise controlling the transmission rate of the film. The controlling the transmission rate of the film may comprise controllably stretching at least part of the film. The stretching may be into the plastic deformation regime of the film and/or be at least partly permanent. The stretching may be in length direction. The film may be stored on a roll and be unrolled for the winding; the unrolled portion may be stretched. The stretching may be in length direction of an at least partly unrolled portion of the film.

By stretching at least part of the film, in particular in length direction, the film is thinned and one or more transmission rates may be increased. The stretching, e.g. a stretching ratio, and/or the transmission rate before and/or after stretching may be determined during the method and/or on the basis of parameter settings and/or properties of the film, e.g. one or more of which being determined before, and/or during, and/or after the stretching. The film may be stretched in a range of 1,5 — 4 times its original (unstretched) length, which may amount to an according thinning of the film and/or increase of one or more transmission rates.

Also or alternatively, the controlling the transmission rate of the film for one or more atmosphere modification gases may comprise controlling the transmission rate of the film by providing the film with one or more microperforations, e.g. one or more laser microperforations.

The one or more microperforations may preferably be made in the film prior to winding the film about the containers and preferably after stretching of the film as discussed above, if applicable. A number and/or size and/or location of the one or more microperforations may be determined on the basis of the desired transmission rate of the cover, as a whole and/or locally. The microperforation(s) may preferably be located in a monolayer surface area.

An embodiment may comprise providing the one or more containers containing the produce when at least partly wound with the film, i.e. the package (while being) formed, with an artificial gas mixture to establish a modified atmosphere within the cover (being) formed. In particular, providing an atmosphere modification gas or - gas mixture to flush an existing atmosphere from the cover and/or establish a modified atmosphere within the cover.

Thus, the package formed by the method may be provided with a suitable modified atmosphere. E.g., having a reduced oxygen concentration and/or an elevated carbon dioxide concentration, compared to ambient atmosphere concentrations. A suitable atmosphere modification gas or -gas mixture may be provided by one or more of providing a substantially pure gas within the cover and/or a gas mixture. An atmosphere modification gas or -gas mixture may be flown over and/or through the produce while being wound and/or after the winding. Several methods of manufacturing one or more suitable atmosphere modification gases and/or -gas mixtures are known, which may comprise taking in air from the ambient atmosphere and concentrating and/or separating and/or forming one or more components from the air and providing the respective component(s) as atmosphere modification gases and/or -gas mixtures to the produce and/or package so as to alter one or more compositions and/or concentrations in the package atmosphere.

Suitable atmosphere modification gases may substantially be oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, ethylene, 1-methylcyclopropene; suitable atmosphere modification gas mixtures may be mixtures of two or more of these gases to relative concentrations differing from an ambient atmosphere.

In some cases, providing the atmosphere modification gases and/or -gas mixtures may comprise providing and/or generating ozone in the modified atmosphere and/or in the package atmosphere.

An atmosphere modification gas or -gas mixture and/or a composition thereof may be determined on the basis of one or more of product, volume, weight, determined respiration characteristics, (expected) storage temperature, (expected) storage duration.

Associated with the preceding, herewith a package of respiring produce is provided, comprising one or more palletized containers of the produce wound with multiple layers of film at least partly onto each other and thus providing a closed cover to the one or more containers. The film has one or more of: an oxygen transmission rate OTR of higher than 4.000 ml/m2.day; a carbon dioxide transmission rate COTR of higher than 20.000 ml/m2.day, preferably higher than 100.000 ml/m2?.day, e.g. higher than 250.000 ml/m?2.day; a ratio B = COTR / OTR larger than 4,0, preferably larger than 5,0 more preferably larger than 7,0, e.g. larger than 8,0 such as larger than 10, or larger than 15; in some cases a ratio B of larger than 20 may be preferred (in particular for flowers); and a water vapour transmission rate WVTR of higher than 1.000 ml/m2.day, preferably higher than 2.000 ml/m2.day, e.g. higher than 3.000 ml/m2.day.

The cover may have a first portion having a first number of layers of film and a second portion having a second number of layers of film, and a surface area of the first portion (“first portion surface area”) and a surface area of the second number of layers (“second portion surface area’) may be configured to control the transmission rate of the cover; more portions with mutually different numbers of layers may be provided and their respective surface areas being configured to control the transmission rate. In particular, the cover may have one or more multilayer portions and one or more monolayer portions, the one or more multilayer portions providing a surface area of the one or more multilayer portions (so that a “first (or second) portion surface area” may be referred to as “multilayer surface area”) and the one or more monolayer portions providing a surface area of the one or more monolayer portions (so that a “second (or first) portion surface area” may be referred to as “monolayer surface area”). The package comprises a pallet, the one or more containers of produce being arranged on the pallet. The pallet may preferably also be at least partly wound with one or more layers of the film.

The package may comprise a cover member underneath and/or a cover member on, the one or more containers, one or more of the cover member(s) possibly being also at least partly wound with (and possibly between) one or more layers of the film. A pallet may also form a cover member. The cover members may be called lower cover member and/or an upper cover member under respectively.

In the package, the one or more containers of produce may be supported on a tray, the tray comprising a first portion radially protruding beyond a second portion supporting the first portion, wherein in particular the first portion is pallet-sized.

Associated with the preceding, herewith is provided a winding apparatus for winding film about one or more palletized containers of produce for forming a package as disclosed herein and/or for performing the method as disclosed herein, comprising: a supply holder for holding a supply of packaging film, a controller for determining a winding pattern about the one or more palletized containers with respect to an axis. The winding apparatus is configured for, controlled by the controller, providing a cover to the one or more containers determining a package atmosphere by winding multiple layers of film at least partly onto each other about the one or more palletized containers with respect to an axis in the winding pattern, for controlling a transmission rate of the cover for one or more atmosphere modification gases, such as one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and ethylene.

The apparatus may comprise a microperforator for controllably microperforating the film and a controller for controlling the microperforator. The apparatus may comprise a stretcher for controllably stretching at least part of the winding film and a controller for controlling the stretcher.

The apparatus may comprise a controller for determining a transmission rate of the film for one more atmosphere determining gases or -gas mixtures.

Two or more of the controllers for determining the winding pattern, the controller for controlling the microperforator, the controller for controlling the stretcher, and controller for determining a transmission rate, may be at least partly integrated into a single controller.

The winding machine is configured for winding palletized products with stretched film in a controlled pattern, preferably stretched and microperforated film.

The supply holder for holding a supply of film may comprise a roll holder for holding one or more rolls of film. The stretcher may comprise an unroller for unrolling at least part of the film. The winding apparatus may cause relative rotation about an axis of the palletized produce, e.g. by rotating the palletized produce about an axis and/or by moving at least part of itself about the palletized produce about such axis. The winding pattern may be determined by controlling a winding pitch of the film about the axis.

The determined pattern may provide a first portion having a first number of layers of film and a second portion having a second number of layers of film, and a surface area of the first portion (“first portion surface area”) and a surface area of the second number of layers (“second portion surface area”) being configured to control the transmission rate of the cover. In particular the determined pattern may have one or more multilayer portions and one or more monolayer portions, the one or more multilayer portions providing a surface area of the one or more multilayer portions ("multilayer surface area”) and the one or more monolayer portions providing a surface area of the one or more monolayer portions (“monolayer surface area”).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-described aspects will hereafter be more explained with further details and benefits with reference to the drawings showing a number of embodiments by way of example.

Figs. 1-6 indicate different steps of embodiments of the method provided herein;

Fig. 7 indicates an embodiment of a winding apparatus;

Fig. 8 indicates an embodiment of a cover showing a winding pattern;

Fig. 9 indicates an embodiment of a package;

Figs. 10-13 indicate different steps of embodiments of the method provided herein;

Fig. 14-16 and 17-22 indicate further different steps of embodiments of the method provided herein, Fig. 19A is a detail of Fig. 19 as indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

It is noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted. The terms “upward”, “downward”, “below”, “above”, and the like relate to the embodiments as oriented in the drawings, unless otherwise specified. Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral, where helpful individualised with alphabetic suffixes.

Further, unless otherwise specified, terms like “detachable” and ‘removably connected” are intended to mean that respective parts may be disconnected essentially without damage or destruction of either part, e.g. excluding structures in which the parts are integral (e.g. welded or moulded as one piece), but including structures in which parts are attached by or as mated connectors, fasteners, releasable self-fastening features, etc. The verb “to facilitate” is intended to mean “to make easier and/or less complicated’, rather than “to enable”.

Figs. 1-9 indicate different steps of a method provided herein.

Fig. 1 indicates a pallet 1, e.g. a Euro-pallet. The pallet 1 has a deck 3 which may have an open surface or a closed surface and may have legs 5, as shown.

Fig. 2 indicates a tray 7, comprising a first portion 9, or support, radially protruding beyond a second portion 11, or base, supporting the first portion 9. Here, radial is considered with respect to a virtual axis through a geometric centre of the tray and perpendicular to a support surface 13 of the tray 7 for operably supporting amounts of produce, in one or more containers such as boxes, crates etc. The tray 7 may be closed and/or effectively non-transmitting for one or more atmosphere modification gases; alternatively, a transmission rate of the tray 7 for one or more atmosphere modification gases may be determined to be used later on (see below).

Fig. 3 indicates arranging the tray 7 on the pallet 7. The first portion 9 is pallet-sized, the circumference having a size and shape conforming to the pallet 1.

Fig. 4 indicates arranging an amount of produce 15 on the pallet 1. The produce 15 is packed in a plurality of containers 17 supported on the tray 7.

Each container 17 may comprise a retail amount of produce e.g. which may be displayed in a retailer's store for sale as plural separate consumer portions, e.g. a consumer buying several hundreds of grams of produce or one or a few items of the produce from the retail amount. Examples of retail amounts of produce are several to tens of kilos of beans, chicories, sprouts, etc.; dozens of citrus fruits, melons, pumpkins, cabbages etc.; tens of kilos of potatoes etc.; hundreds of stems of cut flowers, leaves, stalks, twigs, etc.; hundreds to thousands of grams of herbs and/or spices, etc.

Fig. 5 indicates a hood 19 as an exemplary (upper) cover member to be placed on the stacked containers of produce 17, as shown in Fig. 6. The hood 19 may be of a polymer film material. The hood 19 or similar cover member may cover the containers 17 and the amount of produce 15 therein on the pallet 1, e.g. against the environment. The hood 19 may be closed and/or effectively non-transmitting for one or more atmosphere modification gases; alternatively, a transmission rate of the hood 19 for one or more atmosphere modification gases may be determined to be used later on (see below).

Fig. 7 indicates winding the containers 17 on the tray 7 and the pallet 1 with multiple layers of film 21. The film 21 is preferably wound about the amount of the produce 15, with respect to an axis A.

In Fig. 7, the winding pattern comprises one or more first turns 23 about the pallet 1 and tray 17 (indicated in dashed lines) and thereafter is substantially helical about the axis A. In Fig. 8 shows an exemplary cover of film wound in the winding pattern of Fig. 7 concluded with one or more final turns 24 about the hood 19. Fig. 9 shows the formed CAP package 50. Fig. 9 also shows that a wrapped container of produce may be provided with corner members 28 arranged over the cover, which may protect the cover from damage during transport and handling etc. which might affect integrity of the cover and therewith affect the package atmosphere. It is noted that corner members are often used for palletized containers, however, normally the corner members are arranged on the containers and secured in place by wrapping film material about the assembly of containers and corner members. Here, the corner members 28 are placed outside the cover. The corner members 28 may be rectangular- or V-shaped profiles of a suitable material, e.g. cardboard or plastic; cardboard may be provided as straight strips (to be) folded about the corners of the containers, here: covered corners.

The corner members 28 may be attached to the cover by adhesives and/or by one or more bands wrapped about the assembly of containers 17, cover and corner members 28. Transmission rates of corner members (and possibly any attachment thereof such as adhesives and/or bands etc) for one or more atmosphere modification gases may be determined and used for calculating and/or controlling a transmission rate of a cover provided with the cover members.

Note that the winding may also be applied “top down” (e.g. starting by at least partly winding the hood 19) and/or in any other manner and/or pattern.

Figs. 10-13 indicate another method embodiment, wherein instead of placing a hood 19 as a cover member on the stacked containers of produce 17, and then winding the film 21 onto the hood 19 as in Figs. 5-8, the film 21 is wound about the containers 17 without addition of a hood 19 (Figs 10-11).

Part of the film 21 may extend above the topmost containers 17 and possibly fold inward, e.g. if the film 21 is stretched about the containers during the winding (Fig. 11).

Then, as indicated in Fig. 12, the winding helicity {and possibly pitch) is changed and a portion of film is wound down, and a hood 19 or similar upper cover member is arranged to cover the containers 17, similar to Fig. 6, but now arranging at least part of the hood 19 over part of (one or more top windings of) the wound film. The thus-arranged hood 19 may be attached to the wound film to close the cover.

Also or alternatively, as indicated in Fig. 13, the film 21 may be wound onto the hood 19, e.g. by again adjusting the winding helicity (and possibly pitch). Here again, part of the film 21 may extend above the topmost containers 17 and possibly fold inward, e.g. if the film 21 is stretched about the containers during the winding (Fig. 11).

Thus, the hood 19 is at least partly enclosed (“sandwiched”) between layers of film.

Winding the film over the cover member may fix the cover member onto the containers 17, in particular if the film clings onto itself further attachment of the film and/or (upper) cover member may not be needed.

Figs. 14-17 indicate (options for) further embodiments. E.g. Fig. 14 indicates a closed deck pallet 101, e.g. a nestable closed deck pallet having a deck 103 and legs 105. The deck 103 laterally protrudes beyond the legs 105. The deck 103 and legs 105 are optionally formed as an integral whole.

Fig. 15 indicates a stack of containers 17 on the pallet 101.

Fig. 16 indicates a CAP package 150 formed of the palletized containers 17 of Fig. 15 by winding film 21 about the palletized containers in a controlled winding pattern, as set out above. Since the deck 103 laterally protrudes beyond the legs 105, the film 21 may stretch / be stretched and form / be formed about and underneath the deck 103 (see dashed circle). This facilitates attachment of the film 21 (and the cover as whole) to the pallet 103 and in particular to the palletized containers, and/or this facilitates closing the film onto the pallet 101. Such pallet may therefore obviate use of a tray 7.

Fig. 17 indicates a pallet 201, having a deck 203 and legs 205. The pallet may be the same as, or be different from, the pallet 1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 18 indicates providing the pallet 201 with a pallet cover 551, which may be a standard pallet cover commonly known. Such pallet cover 251 may comprise or be cardboard or cardboard-based. The pallet cover 251 has a bottom 251A and optional upstanding side walls 251B and an open top providing the pallet cover 251 with an optional box-shape.

Figs. 19 and 19A indicate arranging an optional pallet cover liner 253 in and over the pallet cover 251, providing an inner liner portion 253A covering the bottom 251A and here the upstanding walls 251B of) the pallet liner 251 and an outer liner portion 253B extending over the pallet cover side wall 251B, and preferably over part of the pallet 201. The pallet cover liner 253 may be e.g. a polymer film sheet, e.g. of the same or different material as the film 21, and/or of the same or different material as that of a hood 19. The pallet cover liner 253 may be formed as a plane sheet portion and/or may be formed to fit the pallet cover 251.

In some embodiments the pallet cover liner 251 and the hood 19 may be identical. In other embodiments they may differ with respect to material and/or material properties, e.g. thickness and/or transmission rate for one or more atmosphere modification gases. The pallet cover liner 253 may form a lower cover member.

Fig. 21 indicates a stack of containers 17 on the pallet 201, in particular,

Fig. 21 indicates that the containers 17 are (to be) placed onto (and here: partly in) the pallet cover 251 and onto (and here: partly in) the pallet cover liner 253, with the outer liner portion 253B extending over the pallet cover side wall 251B.

Fig. 22 indicates a CAP package 250 formed of the palletized containers 17 of Fig. 21 by winding film 21 about the palletized containers in a controlled winding pattern, as set out above. The film 21 is wound onto the outer liner portion 253B extending over the pallet cover side wall 251B, thus providing a closed cover.

As can best be understood from Figs. 7 and 8, the shown helical winding pattern has a winding pitch P about the axis A that is between one half and a full width

Woof the film 21 when wound onto the amount of produce 15. Therefore, with each turn, part of the film 21 wound onto {the stack of crates 17 providing) the amount of produce 15 will overlap a previous turn providing a multilayer portion 25 and leave an adjacent portion of the previous turn uncovered providing a monolayer portion 27 of width W27 only covered by (the film 21 of) the previous turn. Thus a helical monolayer portion 27 is formed about the stack of produce, separated by a multilayer portion generally being a two-layer portion. In Figs. 7 and 8 the width W27 of the monolayer portion 27 is constant except for end portions 27A and 27B. However, the winding pitch P may be varied along the axis A e.g. providing a larger pitch (and thus a wider monolayer portion) in one axial position and a smaller pitch (and thus a narrower monolayer portion) in another axial position. Also or alternatively, a winding pattern may provide overlapping of more than two layers and/or it may comprise only multiplayer portions and have no monolayer portions.

Preferably the film 21 clings to itself so that the multilayer portion(s) 25 provide a gas tight closing and atmosphere modification gases cannot pass between the film layers there.

The monolayer portion(s) 27 has (have) a first transmission rate for one or more atmosphere modification gases, the multilayer portion(s) has (have) a second transmission rate for the one or more atmosphere modification gases, which may be significantly smaller or even negligible compared to the transmission rate of the monolayer portion(s). A transmission rate of the cover for the one or more atmosphere modification gases, such as one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and ethylene, may therefore be controlled by controlling a surface area of the one or more multilayer portions (“multilayer surface area”) and a surface area of the one or more monolayer portions (“monolayer surface area”).

The transmission rate of the film for one or more atmosphere modification gases may be determined by measuring according to any standard measurement. The transmission rate of the film may be adjusted by controllably stretching at least part of the film, and/or by providing the film 21 with one or more microperforations, e.g. one or more laser micro-perforations (not shown). Microperforations may be defined as intentional perforations having an open area of less than 1 mm? (square millimetre), preferably less than 0,75 mm? more preferably less than 0,5 mm? such as less than 0,25 mm? or less than 0,1 mm2, or even smaller, 0,05 mm? e.g. being a generally round hole with a diameter of about 0,3-0,1 millimetre. Microperforations preferably are provided in monolayer portions of the cover so as not to be covered by further film layers.

In a package comprising a stack of produce or a stack of containers of produce, within a cover, in particular a wound film cover, more in particular a stack of containers of produce formed into a CAP-package, the package atmosphere is protected against external influences and (variations between) local composition of the package atmosphere may be determined by diffusion. In the package atmosphere, a gradient in concentrations of one or more atmosphere modification gases may become apparent, which may cause varying levels of development of produce and/or levels of control of development in the package, e.g. carbon dioxide and/or ethylene may accumulate at or near a bottom of the stack and displace oxygen from there toward a top of the stack. By locally varying a transmission rate of the cover for one or more atmosphere modification gases, such local concentration variations may be countered at least to some extent. E.g., by reducing a transmission rate for oxygen into the package atmosphere at or near a top of the stack and/or package and/or increasing a transmission rate for carbon dioxide and/or ethylene out of the package at or near a bottom of the stack and/or package. Local adjustment of the transmissibility may also or alternatively be provided by appropriate placement and/or sizing of one or more microperforations, and/or by appropriate selection of material properties of cover members, e.g. a hood on top and/or a base, a tray and/or a pallet at the bottom of the package.

Fig. 7 shows a winding apparatus 30 for winding palletized containers of produce and particular for use in the method provided herein. The apparatus 30 comprises a supply holder 32 for holding a supply 34 of winding film 21, e.g. a roll of the film 21 wound on a reel and/or some other core.

The winding apparatus 30 comprises an optional first drive 36 for feeding the film 21 from the supply 34 to the target to be wound. The drive 36 may comprise one or more rollers, e.g. rollers opposite each other and/or in a labyrinth.

The winding apparatus 30 comprises an optional stretcher 38 for controllably stretching at least part of the film 21. Here, the stretcher is formed by the first drive 36 and an optional second drive 40 also comprising one or more rollers, e.g. rollers opposite each other and/or in a labyrinth. By controlling a drive speed and/or braking speed of the first and second drives 36, 38 with respect to each other, a film portion 21B may be stretched in length direction (L) relative to an initial film portion 21A.

The stretching may be into the plastic deformation regime and provide a substantially permanent thinning of the film portion 21C leaving the stretcher 38. If the stretching in length direction (L) affects the width W of the film 21, a winding pitch P may be accordingly adjusted.

In the shown winding apparatus 30, an optional microperforator 42 is provided for microperforating the film to further control the transmission rate of the film 21. E.g. a hot needle perforator and/or laser perforator may be provided, the laser perforator preferably providing pulses (“shots”) of high intensity radiation onto the film such that one or more shots on or near one position on the film produce a microperforation there through the film. The thus processed film 21 may be wound onto the amount of produce 15. It is preferred that any microperforations are made in the film after stretching the film to improve control over size (e.g. open area) of the microperforation(s) and over the stretching, e.g. preventing tearing and/or otherwise deforming the microperforations and/or part of the film.

For the winding, the winding apparatus may be provided with a rotary arm to rotate the film supply and any associated structures about the palletized produce and/or the apparatus may move as a whole about the palletized produce (neither shown). Another option, indicated here, may comprise a rotary pallet holder 44 rotating the pallet about the axis A and any produce thereon about the axis A. At least part of at least one of the winding apparatus and the pallet holder may be axially adjustable (e.g. position-adjustable in vertical direction as indicated in Fig. 7) to provide a desired a axial winding pattern, e.g. a drive 46 being provided to adjust a position of an arm feeding the film 21 to the palletized produce to be wound.

An optional controller 48 is provided which may be connected to one or more of the supply holder 32, (the first and/or second drives 36, 40 of) the stretcher 38, the microperforator 42 and the rotary pallet holder 44, the position adjust drive 46 for film position adjustment, and a gas supply 29, see below. The controller 48 may be connected with one or more of a memory, a detector and another controller for determining particular desired transmissibility rates for one or more atmosphere modification gases, e.g. based on one or more parameters associated with the produce, the amount of produce, the containers, the package volume, headspace, storage and/or transport temperatures, etc.

During the winding or thereafter, one or more atmosphere modification gases and/or atmosphere modification gas mixtures may supplied to the produce and/or within the cover (being formed from the film), e.g. from a gas supply 29 (schematically indicated with an arrow). If applied after the winding, the gas one or more atmosphere modification gases and/or -gas mixtures may be injected through the film cover, e.g. using a needle to penetrate the film, the resultant hole may be closed afterwards.

Preferably, the injection is done in a multilayer portion and the closing is substantially non-transmitting for atmosphere modification gases. One or more septa or other seals may be provided, also or alternatively for measuring a composition of the package atmosphere.

The winding may cause some further stretching of the film 21 between the winding apparatus and the amount of produce 15 (to be) wound. This may generally be small and have no or negligible effect on the transmissibility of the film. However, elastic deformation of the film may assist fixing the film onto the produce (or rather: packages 17 thereof such as boxes or crates) and/or underneath the tray 7 (see recessed cover portions R in Fig. 8) and/or onto the hood 19. Thus a compact CAP package may be provided, e.g. for transport and/or storage. By controlling the transmission rate(s) via control of the winding of the produce, requirements for microperforating e.g. a number of microperforations may be reduced, accelerating and simplifying the packaging.

Further, the method may be used with most if not all winding films for palletizing produce.

Fig. © shows a resultant CAP package 50 of respiring produce provided according to the method just described. In particular, comprising an amount of produce 15 (cf. Fig. 4, 6), which produce is packaged in plural packages arranged on a tray 7 (Figs. 2-4) on a pallet and being provided with a cover member (hood 19; Figs. 5-8), and being wound with multiple layers of film 21 (Figs. 5-8) at least partly onto each other thus providing a cover to the amount of produce 15 having one or more multilayer portions 23, 25 and one or more monolayer portions 27, the one or more multilayer portions 23, 25 providing a surface area of the one or more multilayer portions (“multilayer surface area”) and the one or more monolayer portions providing a surface area of the one or more monolayer portions (“monolayer surface area”), wherein the film has a transmission rate for one or more atmosphere modification gases, wherein the transmission rate of the cover for the one or more atmosphere modification gases, such as one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour, and ethylene, is.

The disclosure is not restricted to the above described embodiments which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims.

Various embodiments of the method, in particular providing one or more suitable winding patterns may be implemented as a program product for use with a computer system, where the program(s) of the program product define functions of the embodiments (including the methods described herein). In one embodiment, the program(s) can be contained on a variety of non-transitory computer-readable storage media, where, as used herein, the expression “non-transitory computer readable storage media” comprises all computer-readable media, with the sole exception being a transitory, propagating signal. In another embodiment, the program(s) can be contained on a variety of transitory computer-readable storage media. Illustrative computer- readable storage media include, but are not limited to: (i) non-writable storage media (e.g., read-only memory devices within a computer such as CD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROM drive, ROM chips or any type of solid-state non-volatile semiconductor memory) on which information is permanently stored; and (ii) writable storage media (e.g., flash memory, floppy disks within a diskette drive or hard-disk drive or any type of solid-state random-access semiconductor memory) on which alterable information is stored.

Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

1. A method of packaging one or more palletized containers (17) of breathable products as a controlled atmosphere package (50, 150, 250) comprising providing a cover for the one or more containers (17) defining a packaging atmosphere by wrapping a plurality of layers of film (21) at least partially over each other about the one or more containers relative to an axis (A), the method comprising controlling a permeability of the cover to one or more atmosphere modification gases, such as one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor and ethylene, by controlling a wrapping pattern of the film (21) about the axis (A).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the film (21) is essentially a thermoplastic, and/or has one or more of an oxygen permeability OTR of 4,000 ml/m2.day or higher; a carbon dioxide permeability COTR higher than 20,000 ml/m2.day, preferably higher than 100,000 ml/m2.day, for example higher than

250,000 ml/m2.day; a ratio B = COTR / OTR greater than 4.0, preferably greater than 5.0, more preferably greater than 7.0, for example greater than 8.0 such as greater than 10, or greater than 15, or greater than 20; a water vapour permeability WVTR of more than 1,000 ml/m2.day, preferably higher than 2,000 ml/m?2.day, for example higher than

3,000 ml/m2.day.

3. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein controlling the wrapping pattern comprises controlling the wrapping pattern based on one or more of product type, product quantity, packaged product head space, storage temperature, measured product respiration values.

A method according to any preceding claim, wherein controlling a winding pattern comprises winding at least a portion of the film (21) around the one or more palletized containers (17) in a helical pattern about the axis (A), and controlling comprises controlling a winding pitch (P) thereof.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the controlling comprises varying a pattern and/or pitch (P) of the winding along the axis (A).

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein controlling the winding pattern comprises providing the cover with at least a first portion having a first plurality of layers providing a first portion of surface area and a second portion having a second plurality of layers providing a second portion of surface area.

A method according to any preceding claim, comprising: applying the one or more containers (17) to a cover portion (7, 101, 253) and/or a cover portion (19) to the one or more containers (17), determining a permeability of the cover portion(s) (7, 101, 253; 19) to the one or more atmosphere modification gases, and also at least partially wrapping the cover portion(s) (7, 101, 253; 19) with one or more layers of the film (21), wherein a pallet (101) may form one of the cover portions.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising supporting the one or more containers (17) on a sheet (7), the sheet (7) comprising a first portion (9) extending radially beyond a second portion (11) supporting the first portion (9), in particular the first portion (9) having a pallet format, and also at least partially wrapping the sheet (7) with one or more layers of the film (21).

9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein controlling the transmittance of the film (21) to one or more atmosphere modification gases comprises controlling the transmittance of the film (21) by controlled stretching of at least a portion of the film (21).

10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein determining the transmittance rate of the film (21) to one or more atmosphere modification gases comprises controlling the transmittance of the film (21) by providing the film with one or more micro-perforations, for example one or more laser micro-perforations.

11. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising providing the one or more palletised containers (17) when at least partially wrapped with the film with an artificial gas mixture to create a modified atmosphere within the cover being formed.

12. Packaging (50, 150, 250) of breathable products, comprising one or more palletized containers (17) of the products wrapped with multiple layers of film (21) at least partially wrapped over each other, thereby providing a closed cover for the one or more containers, the film (21) having one or more of an oxygen permeability OTR of more than 4,000 ml/m2.day; a carbon dioxide permeability COTR of more than 20,000 ml/m2.day, preferably more than 100,000 ml/m2.day, for example more than

250,000 ml/m2.day; a ratio B = COTR / OTR greater than 4.0, preferably greater than 5.0, more preferably greater than 7.0, for example greater than 8.0 such as greater than 10 or greater than 15; in some cases a ratio B greater than 20 may be preferred (particularly for flowers); a water vapour transmission rate WVTR of more than 1,000 ml/m2.day, preferably higher than 2,000 ml/m2.day, for example higher than

3,000 ml/m?.day.

The package (50, 150, 250) of claim 12, wherein the cover has a first portion with a first plurality of film layers (21) and a second portion with a second plurality of film layers (21), and a surface of the first portion ("first portion surface") and a surface of the second plurality of layers ("second portion surface") configured to control the permeability of the cover; in particular having one or more multilayer portions and one or more single-layer portions, the one or more multilayer portions providing a surface of the one or more multilayer portions ("multilayer surface") and the one or more single-layer portions providing a surface of the one or more monolayer portions ("monolayer surface").

14. A package (50, 150, 250) as claimed in claim 12 or 13, comprising a pallet (1, 101, 201) carrying the one or more containers (17), the pallet (1, 101, 201) being at least partially wrapped with one or more film layers (21).

15. A package (50, 150, 250) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, comprising a cover portion (7, 101, 253; 19) beneath and/or on the one or more containers (17), the cover portion(s) also being at least partially wrapped with one or more layers of the film (21).

A package (50, 150, 250) according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the one or more containers (17) are carried on a tray (7), the tray comprising a first portion (9) extending radially beyond a second portion (11) supporting the first portion (9), in particular the first portion being of pallet size.

17. A wrapping device (30) for wrapping one or more palletized containers (17) with product to form a package (50, 150, 250) according to any one of claims 12 to 16 and/or for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising: a storage container (32) for holding a supply (34) of film (21),

a controller (48) for determining a wrapping pattern around the one or more palletized containers (17) relative to an axis (A); and wherein the wrapping apparatus (30) is configured, under control of the controller (48), to provide a cover to the one or more containers (17); determining a packaging atmosphere by wrapping a plurality of layers of film (21) at least partially on top of each other around the one or more palletized containers (17) relative to the axis (A) in the wrapping pattern, for controlling a permeability of the cover to one or more atmosphere modifying gases, such as one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor and ethylene.

The winding apparatus (30) of claim 17, further comprising a micro-perforator (42) for controllably micro-perforating the film (21) and a controller (48) for controlling the micro-perforator {42}, and/or a stretching device (38) for controllably stretching at least a portion of the film (21) and a controller {48) for controlling the stretching device (38).

The winding apparatus (30) of claim 17 or 18, wherein the predetermined pattern provides a first portion having a first plurality of film layers and a second portion having a second plurality of film layers, and an area of the first portion ("first portion surface") and an area of the second plurality of layers ("second portion surface") configured to control the permeability of the cover; in particular having one or more multi-layer portions and one or more single-layer portions, the one or more multi-layer portions providing an area of the one or more multi-layer portions ("multi-layer surface") and the one or more single-layer portions providing an area of the one or more single-layer portions ("single-layer surface").