JP2025174094A - Fruit bag - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent the surface of fruit from coming into close contact with the inner surface of a fruit bag and to prevent sunburn.
[Solution] The outer bag is constructed with a mesh lining placed inside. The outer bag is made of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin sheet with a thickness of 0.03 to 0.06 mm, which is thick enough to prevent holes from being created when beetles bite, and which deforms in response to wind force when the wind blows. The lining is a mesh placed inside the outer bag to prevent the inner surface of the outer bag from coming into close contact with the surface of the fruit and to retain moisture generated by the fruit itself. At least one narrow slit of a predetermined length can be made on the outer and lower edges of the outer bag to allow the moisture to drain out of the bag.
[Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to fruit bags used for bagging fruit, and in particular to fruit bags made from synthetic resin sheets.

In fruit cultivation, if fruit is left to ripen after ripening, it often rots for a variety of reasons. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in soft fruits such as figs. Most of the rot is caused by fungi transmitted by insects or underground fungi that are splashed up by rain and attach to the leaves. To prevent this from happening, pesticide spraying and bagging are carried out, but there is a certain amount of resistance from consumers to pesticide spraying due to the use of pesticides.

Taking the above into consideration, prior art that attempts to prevent damage from insects and pests can be found in patent and non-patent literature.

The fruit bag disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP 2009-65907 A) is composed of an outer layer, a middle water-absorbing layer, and an inner layer with numerous holes inside that. This allows moisture generated inside to escape to the outside.

Patent Document 2 (JP Patent Publication No. 2013-233091) describes a structure in which a "part" is inserted between the fruit bag and the fruit to prevent the insect's proboscis from reaching the fruit's outer skin, ensuring a certain distance between the fruit bag and the fruit. While the exact nature of this "part" is unclear, it can be considered a type of spacer.

Patent Document 3 (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. 64-56646) describes a structure in which a breathable inner lining is placed inside a breathable outer bag. The lining has numerous micropores with a diameter of 50 to 100 μm to ensure breathability. The outer bag has perforations at the top, which can be cut off at the appropriate time to allow sunlight to reach the fruit.

Furthermore, in Patent Document 4 (JP 2019-201573 A), the applicant proposes a fruit bag made of a synthetic resin sheet that is resistant to insects and bacteria and does not require the spraying of pesticides. Specifically, the bag is equipped with a strap at a specified width in the center of the top width direction, with a body that is larger in volume than the fruit itself, and an opening that corresponds to the strap and has a diameter large enough to fit young fruit.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-65907 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-233091 Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 64-56646 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-201573 Patent No. 4237141

National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) data (http://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/org/karc/seika/kyushu_seika/2006/2006175.html)

Pesticides are typically sprayed on fruit during its growth process or at specific times before harvest to kill pathogens, but this does not eliminate consumer concerns about pesticides, and while this may increase the apparent value of the product, it does not alleviate psychological anxiety.

Bagging reduces the infestation of insects and vermin, and the above-mentioned bacteria are less likely to attach to the fruit, resulting in fewer fruits rotting in a short period of time, but this is not complete, and spraying with pesticides is essential to compensate for this imperfection.

The applicant of this application has disclosed in Patent Document 4 that spraying of pesticides is unnecessary if the young fruit is bagged from the time it is young. In this case, since the young fruit needs to be exposed to sunlight during its growth process, a transparent or translucent material (synthetic resin material) is used for the bags.

However, if transparent or translucent materials are used for the bags, the inside of the bags can become hot and dry under the summer sun, causing the fruit trees to get sunburned. To prevent this, it is customary to attach a separate umbrella to block direct sunlight.

Furthermore, if a smooth synthetic resin sheet comes into close contact with the surface of the fruit tree, spoilage bacteria will grow in that area, making the fruit unharvestable or causing further decay after harvest. This adhesion is caused by the large amount of water vapor that the fruit gives off during its growth process. In other words, the water vapor that the fruit gives off during its growth process turns into droplets on the inner walls of the bag, as shown in Figure 13, and surface tension causes the inner surface of the bag to adhere to the surface of the fruit tree.

To avoid this, for example, in Patent Document 5, numerous microscopic holes are drilled into the material. This allows the moisture released by the fruit to be quickly expelled from the bag, but on the other hand, it also creates the problem of "sunburn" mentioned above.

As explained below, the present invention involves bagging young fruit, which necessitates the use of transparent or translucent materials. However, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 are based on the premise that bagging will be done after the fruit has ripened, and therefore have structures that do not emphasize translucency, and are therefore not applicable to the present invention.

The present invention was proposed in light of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and there is a need for fruit bags that can be used to bag young fruit, prevent the surface of the fruit from coming into close contact with the inner surface of the bag, and allow the fruit to be left in that state until harvest without sunburn, and that do not require the spraying of pesticides.

The present invention is designed to place a mesh lining inside the outer bag.

The outer bag is made of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin sheet with a thickness of 0.03 to 0.06 mm, which is thick enough to prevent holes from being made when beetles bite into it, and which deforms in response to the force of the wind when it blows, and which has an opening on the top edge.

The lining is a mesh placed inside the outer bag to prevent the inner surface of the outer bag from coming into contact with the surface of the fruit and to retain moisture generated by the fruit itself.

By creating at least one narrow slit of a predetermined length on the outer edge and bottom edge of the outer bag, the moisture can be drained out of the fruit bag.

By inserting the mesh lining, the outer bag and the fruit tree face each other across the lining's threads (lines), preventing them from coming into contact with each other. This prevents the outer bag from coming into close contact with the surface of the fruit tree. Furthermore, the mesh retains moisture released by the fruit tree for a long time, preventing the bag from drying out too much. This moisture is then gradually released to the outside of the outer bag through the slits.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the fruit bag of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sealing unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the procedure for using fruit bags using the sealing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a continuation of the procedure of FIG. 3; 1A to 1C are diagrams showing the steps of opening the fruit bag of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a sealing unit according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the procedure for using a fruit bag using the sealing unit of Example 2 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a continuation of FIG. 7 . FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional fruit bag. 1 is a photograph showing an example and a comparative example for figs. 1 is a photograph showing an example and a comparative example of peaches. 1 is a photograph showing an example and a comparative example of apples. This is a photo showing an example of the "sweat" that fruit trees produce.

<Prerequisites>
Fruit-rotting bacteria are present on the surface of flowers or young fruit to some extent, and grow as ants and thrips swarm on the fruit. Furthermore, as explained below, the applicant has demonstrated through the implementation of the invention disclosed in JP 2019-201573 A that bagging young fruit in non-breathable synthetic resin bags inhibits the growth of spoilage bacteria and produces fruit that is less susceptible to spoilage. However, when bagging young fruit in non-breathable synthetic resin bags, the temperature inside the bags rises and dries on sunny days, causing sunburn in 10% to 20% of the bagged young fruit.

This "sunburn" occurs when the inside of the bag becomes dry, so it is important to keep the inside of the bag from becoming extremely dry.

Meanwhile, fruits produce a large amount of moisture ("sweat") during their growth process. According to the applicant's observations, this "sweat" itself does not affect the fruit, but when the fruit is bagged using a synthetic resin bag, the "sweat" causes the fruit to stick to the synthetic resin, and rot progresses in the areas of contact.

In this invention, therefore, a mesh is placed inside the transparent or translucent outer bag. The first function of this mesh is to prevent the fruit from coming into close contact with the inner bag. The second function is to retain the "sweat" released by the fruit. The moisture released by the fruit initially takes the form of extremely fine water vapor, which adheres to the surface of the contents of the outer bag. However, as the amount gradually accumulates, it turns into droplets (see Figure 13). Without the mesh lining, the droplets would gradually become heavy and accumulate at the bottom of the bag, or, if there are water holes, they would be expelled to the outside through them.

However, with the mesh of the present invention, the water droplets in the mesh compartments are trapped in each compartment and are retained for a long time without falling to the bottom. Even if sunlight is present in this state, the water will evaporate and the heat of evaporation will be absorbed within the bag, preventing the inside of the bag from becoming extremely hot or dry.

<Basic structure>
FIG. 1 shows a fruit bag according to the present invention.

A mesh lining 2 is inserted inside a transparent or translucent outer bag 1 made of synthetic resin such as vinyl or nylon, and a sealing unit is provided to seal the opening at the top of the outer bag.

<Outer bag>
The outer bag 1 must be strong (thick) enough to prevent holes from being made by gnawed at by pests such as thrips, but if it is too thick, the opening will not be able to be sealed as described below, so the thickness must be within the range of 0.03 to 0.06 mm. This thickness is based on polyethylene, but is roughly the same for other resins.

The top edge 11a of the outer bag 1 forms an opening 12, and the left and right side edges 11b, 11c and bottom edge 11d of the outer bag 1 are sealed. In addition, multiple drainage slits 16 are formed around the outer periphery of the outer bag 1. These slits 16 are simply narrow cuts made with scissors to a specified depth and a specified length (e.g., approximately 1 cm) inward. Because they are narrow, they prevent pests such as thrips from entering but allow moisture to escape from the inside.

<Outer bag thickness>
As mentioned above, the outer bag 1 must be at least 0.03 mm thick to withstand insect bites, but there are two problems associated with the thickness of the outer bag: one is "sealing" and the other is "wind."

Using the sealing unit 30 described below, it is possible to achieve a seal between the fruit stalk C and the outer bag 1, but if the outer bag 1 is thick, the sealing area (between the fruit stalk and the outer bag) will lack flexibility, making the above-mentioned seal impossible and allowing rainwater or insects to enter.

Next, if the thickness of the outer bag 1 exceeds a certain value, it becomes too rigid and is more likely to catch wind, causing the fruit to fall. To ensure that the bag is soft enough to deflect the wind and deform when the wind blows, there is an upper limit to the thickness.

With a thickness within the above range, the opening is adequately sealed, and even in strong winds, the bag can flexibly change shape in response to the wind (even taking into account the liner 2 described below). In contrast, in Patent Documents 1 and 3, the thickness (thickness of outer bag 1 + thickness of liner 2) is too large, making the bag more susceptible to wind and significantly increasing the probability of fruit dropping.

<Lining>
The lining 2 is specifically a mesh made of synthetic resin.

The mesh is made of threads (0.1-0.3 mm) thick enough to prevent the inner surface of the outer bag 1 from adhering tightly to the surface of the fruit when the fruit is inside, and meshes of a specified size (approximately 3-10 mm on a side).

However, there is a relative relationship between the thickness of the thread and the size of the mesh; the thinner the thread, the smaller the mesh, but if the mesh is too small, it becomes impossible to observe the condition of the fruit from the outside. From this perspective, the mesh size needs to be at least 3 mm, in which case the thread thickness needs to be around 0.1 mm.

In addition, while the netting material can be hard when handling relatively hard fruits such as apples, when used with soft fruits such as figs, the threads that make up the mesh can rub against the fruit due to wind, etc., damaging the fruit, so the net needs to be made from as soft a material as possible.

The applicant's experiments have shown that acrylic netting used for waterproofing building rooftops is ideal; polyester netting commercially available for agricultural use can also be used, but is a little stiff for use on figs or peaches. The acrylic netting is flexible yet taut, and when the outer bag 1 is closed as described above, it expands into a bell shape, reducing contact between the young fruit and the netting, particularly when the fruit is young, and maintaining a space between the fruit and the outer bag.

The lining 2 is formed below the opening 12 of the outer bag 1, avoiding the area where the sealing unit 30 (described below) is formed. This is because the sealing unit 30 area must be as thin as possible and flexible, as it is necessary for the fruit stalk and the outer bag to be in close contact with each other.

The lining 2 may be formed over the entire area below the portion where the sealing unit 30 is formed, but it is preferable to form it over the range from the upper half to the upper one-third of the inside of the outer bag 1.

As mentioned above, the function of the inner lining 2 is to catch the "sweat" produced by the fruit, which is in the form of a fine mist that tends to concentrate and adhere to the upper part of the bag. Furthermore, even if the ripe fruit is to be prevented from coming into contact with the inner surface of the outer bag 1, it is sufficient for it to be present only in the upper part of the bag. Furthermore, this is because the progress of the fruit's growth can be observed from the transparent part that is not covered by the lining.

If we assume that the surface of the fruit and the inner surface of the outer bag 1 come into direct contact without using the liner 2, the "sweat" produced by the fruit will adhere to the inner surface of the outer bag 1, causing the surface of the fruit and the inner surface of the outer bag 1 to come into close contact. However, since a certain amount of putrefactive bacteria is already attached to the fruit, creating this close contact will cause the putrefactive bacteria to multiply.

In addition, the "sweat" produced by the fruit adheres directly to the inner surface of the outer bag, forming droplets that collect at the bottom of the bag, and if there are slits or holes, they are expelled through them. If there is strong sunlight during the day in this state, the inside of the bag will dry out, resulting in the "sunburn" condition mentioned above.

The presence of the mesh lining 2 prevents this adhesion from occurring. Furthermore, water droplets that adhere to the inner surface of the outer bag 1 can be stored for a long time in each section of the mesh. Even if exposed to sunlight in this state, the water droplets will evaporate, absorbing the heat of vaporization from within the bag, making the probability of "sunburn" occurring extremely low. According to the applicant's observations, this occurred in around 1% of all bagged items.

Furthermore, the inner lining 2 has a certain degree of elasticity. This elasticity allows the fruit bag to expand like a skirt from the tied opening, preventing direct contact between the surface of the fruit tree and the inner surface of the outer bag 1, especially when the fruit is young. Even after the fruit has ripened, most of the fruit tree surface does not come into contact with the inner surface of the outer bag (lining).

<Sealing unit>

A sealing unit 30 consisting of a first sealing device and a second sealing device is formed corresponding to the opening 12 on the upper edge of the outer bag 1, as described below.

That is, as shown in Figure 2(a), the upper ends of the side edges 11b, 11c at both the left and right ends of the opening 12 are cut to a predetermined depth to form apertures 3a, 3b separating the two front and back sheets. As shown in Figure 2(b), these apertures 3a, 3b are folded back and their ends are welded to the bag body, forming front and back through-holes 32a, 32b parallel to the top edge of the outer bag.

Next, the wire 33a, which deforms in response to an external force, is folded in half, and one end is inserted through one of the front through-holes 32a and the other end is inserted through one of the rear through-holes 32b, causing the two ends to protrude out the other side of the through-holes 32a, 32b. The two protruding ends are then twisted together to form the first sealing device (Figure 2(c)).

Similarly, wire 33b, which deforms in response to external force, is folded in half, and the two ends of wire 33b are inserted through the other of through-holes 32a and 32b, protruding to one side, and the two protruding ends are twisted together to form a second sealing device.

As will be explained later, with the above configuration, the frictional resistance between the through holes 32a, 32b and the wires 33a, 33b that deform in response to external forces is extremely small, so with young fruit placed in the fruit bag, the outer bag can be closed simply by pulling the wires 33a, 33b that deform in response to external forces in opposite directions from both sides (see Figure 3(c)). Conversely, when it is time to harvest, the outer bag can be easily opened by pulling the opening 12 from both sides without tearing it (see Figures 5(a) → 5(b)).

Furthermore, the wires 33a and 33b, which are deformed in response to external forces, can be easily bent and twisted, making it easy to maintain the seal and attach them to the branch (see FIG. 4).
Specifically, iron wires coated with synthetic resin are used as the wires 33a and 33b that deform in response to an external force.
This not only significantly improves the efficiency of bagging work, but also the efficiency of harvesting work, and by washing and disinfecting the bags, they can be reused the following year or the year after that.

The sealing unit 30 is composed of two sealing devices, just like in Example 1, but the configuration of each is different.

That is, as shown in Figure 6(a), the hole allowances 3a and 3b are folded back and their ends are welded to the bag body, forming through-holes 32a and 32b on the front and back that are parallel to the upper edge 11a of the outer bag, which is the same as in Example 1 (Figures 2(a) → 2(b)).

A wire rod 33c that deforms in response to a third external force is inserted through one of the front and rear through holes 32a, and both ends are twisted outside the through hole 32a to form a third sealing device. Furthermore, a wire rod 33d that deforms in response to a fourth external force is inserted through the other of the front and rear through holes 32d, and both ends are twisted outside the through hole to form a fourth sealing device (Figure 6(b) → Figure 6(c)).

As with Example 1, iron wires coated with synthetic resin are used as the wires 33c and 33d that deform in response to external forces.

As will be explained in more detail later, some fruit species, such as peaches, have extremely short stalks. If the above-mentioned Example 1 is used, the wires 33c, 33d that deform in response to external forces and the shrunken material of the outer bag that makes up the through-holes 32a, 32b will be interposed between the branch B and the fruit A, damaging the fruit. However, if the above-mentioned Example 2 is used, only the outer bag 1 can be interposed between the branch B and the fruit A, eliminating the risk of damaging the fruit (see Figure 7(c) → Figure 8(a)).

<Usage procedure>
(Fruit bag using the sealing unit of Example 1)
The procedure for using the fruit bag using the sealing unit 30 of Example 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5. The length of the pedicel B connecting the young fruit A to the branch B varies depending on the fruit species. In figs, the pedicel B is an extension of the fruit, and is thinner than the fruit. In peaches, the pedicel is only a few millimeters long at most.

First, it is preferable to disinfect and sterilize young fruit A (approximately 30-50 mm in diameter), but this is not essential.

Next, the opening 12 of the outer bag 1 is left open, and the young fruit is inserted into the outer bag 1 through the open opening 12 (Figure 3a → Figure 3b).

Next, by pulling on both ends of the wires 33a and 33b that deform in response to external forces, the fruit stalk C and outer bag 1 are sealed tightly (Figure 3b → Figure 3c). Even if left in this state for a long time, there is little risk of rainwater or beetles entering through the opening 12. However, since both wires 33a and 33b that deform in response to external forces and the outer bag 1 are made of synthetic resin, the frictional resistance is small, and the opening will tend to open if left for a long time. On the other hand, the iron wire at the core of the wires that deform in response to external forces can be bent and stretched freely.

As shown in Figure 4(a), by folding both ends of the wires 33a and 33b, which deform in response to external forces, inward, the opening 12 can be easily kept sealed. Also, as shown in Figure 4(b), by wrapping the wires 33a and 33b around the branch with the fruit stalk and twisting it once or twice, the outer bag 1 can be kept sealed while preventing the fruit from falling even when the wind blows. The type of form to be selected can be determined depending on the type of fruit.

In this way, the young fruit A covered by the fruit bag grows over time, and when it becomes a fruit, the surface of the fruit may come into contact with the inner surface of the lining 2. However, even when the fruit grows large, the lining 2 remains between the surface of the fruit and the inner surface of the outer bag 1, forming the gap described above.

At this time, the moisture produced by the fruit is trapped within each mesh compartment of the inner lining 2, so even in strong sunlight, it turns into steam and the temperature inside the bag is lost through the heat of vaporization, reducing the chance of "sunburn." Furthermore, excess moisture is released to the outside of the outer bag 1 through the drainage slits 16.

The most efficient way to harvest is to separate the fruit from the branch with the fruit sac still attached, and then remove the fruit sac. Of course, it is also possible to remove the fruit sac before separating the fruit from the branch.

In either case, to remove the fruit bag from the fruit, grasp both ends of the opening 12 of the outer bag 1 and pull gently. Because there is little resistance between the wire, which deforms in response to external force, and the outer bag 1, the opening 12 can be opened with little force (see Figure 5 (a) → (b)).

The twist shown in Figure 4(b) above can be easily removed by untwisting it in the opposite direction, after which the harvesting process can be carried out in the same way as described above.

The above example describes bagging the young fruit, but the same effect can be achieved by bagging the fruit after it has ripened, disinfecting it with electrolyzed ion water or an appropriate disinfectant, as before.

This reduces bagging and unbagging to just a few seconds each, significantly improving cost performance. Furthermore, because the bag itself is not damaged, the same fruit bags can be reused the following year or even the year after, resulting in significant cost performance.

(Fruit bag using sealing unit of Example 2)
The procedure for using the fruit bag using the sealing unit 30 of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 7 and 8. The fruit bag using the sealing unit 30 of the second embodiment is applied to fruit in which the length of the stalk B connecting the fruit A to the branch B is extremely short (e.g., peaches, usually about 2 mm).

The opening 12 of the outer bag 1 is left open, and the young fruit is inserted into the outer bag 1 through the open opening 12 (Figure 7a → Figure 7b). At this time, the two through holes 32a and 32b on the front and back should be parallel to the direction in which the branch B extends.

Next, when the tips of wires 33c and 33d, which deform in response to the external force, are pulled, branch B becomes fitted into opening 12 (between through-holes 32a and 32b) (Fig. 7b → Fig. 7c).

Next, one of the through-holes 32a is placed over the other through-hole 32b on branch A (Fig. 7c → Fig. 8a), and the two thin wires 33c and 33d, which deform in response to external forces, are twisted (Fig. 8a → Fig. 8b).

As a result, even as the young fruit grows, the wires 33c and 33d, which deform in response to external forces, and the shrunken portions of the outer bag 1 material at the through-holes 32a and 32b will not get in between the fruit and the branch B, allowing the fruit to grow without being damaged. At this time, the through-holes 32a and 32b overlap the branch B, sealing the opening 12 above the branch B and preventing the entry of rainwater and pests. In this example, it is desirable to leave a large hole allowance in order to ensure sufficient overlap between the through-holes 32a and 32b on the branch B.

<Comparison with other conventional products>
The above series of operations will be compared with the case where a string made of synthetic or natural fiber material is used instead of a wire (coated wire) that deforms in response to an external force.

The process from Figure 3(a) → Figure 3(b) → Figure 3(c) (Figure 7(a) → Figure 7(b) → Figure 7(c)) can proceed at roughly the same speed for both.

However, in the processes shown in Figures 4(a) and 8(a) to prevent the opening 12 from opening, if strings are used, both strings must be tied together, which is time-consuming. Similarly, in the processes shown in Figures 4(b) and 8(b) to prevent the fruit from falling, it is also time-consuming to tie both strings together above the branches.

Even when string is used, the fruit is left unattended for long periods while it grows. During this time, the opening of the outer bag remains fastened with both strings, or both strings are tied together, or both strings are tied together on the branch.

When it's time to harvest, when you try to separate fruit A from the branch B along with the bag and remove the bag, the string expands due to wind and rain, and even if you try to open it by holding the opening, it is difficult to open without applying a lot of force. In other words, the process of Figure 5(a) → (b) in the present invention does not proceed smoothly. This necessitates steps such as cutting the bag with scissors. Cutting the bag with scissors means that it cannot be reused. Furthermore, if the string is knotted, it is difficult to untie the knot at harvest time, and the string itself must be cut, and the difficulty of opening the opening is the same as described above.

In other words, a major feature of the present invention is that by using a thin wire that deforms in response to an external force, it is possible to easily form the state shown in Figures 4(a), (b) or 8(b) that maintains the seal, and in addition, removing the bag at harvest time is extremely easy, as shown in Figures 5(a) → (b).

As explained above, the present invention provides benefits that go beyond simply replacing string with a wire that deforms in response to external forces.

Next, in the case of fruit bags with an iron wire embedded in one end of the top of the bag, as shown in Figure 9, the iron wire must be wrapped around the short fruit stalk with the fingers during installation, which requires skilled work and can damage the fruit.

In contrast, the feature of the present invention is that it allows for operations such as pulling the ends of wires 33a and 33b, which deform in response to external forces at a position away from the fruit, as shown in Figures 3(b) → (c) and 7(b) → (c), or subsequently folding wires 33a and 33b back as shown in Figure 4(a), or even twisting wires 33a and 33b on the branch as shown in Figures 4(b) and 8(b), thereby offering the advantage of significantly improved workability.

<Examples of harvested fruits>
As described above, the present invention has the following advantages: (1) The opening 12 of the fruit bag is tightly sealed at the stalk, preventing rainwater from entering. (2) The fruit itself breathes and releases moisture from its surface, but the mesh lining prevents the fruit from adhering to the outer bag, preventing the growth of spoilage bacteria. (3) In addition, slits around the outer bag allow moisture to evaporate easily, further enhancing the effect of (2). (4) The opening 12 of the outer bag is sealed using a wire that deforms in response to external forces, making the process of hanging and removing the bag extremely efficient.

These are the four points. The effect of (4) above has been explained in the section on "Work Procedures," so here we will provide examples of the effects of (1) and (2) above. Color versions of the monochrome photographs used here (Figures 10 to 13) will be submitted separately as reference photographs.
Figs are soft in both skin and flesh, and are easily spoiled. Even if they are kept on the tree until fully ripe, decay will progress. Therefore, it is difficult to find fully ripe figs on the market.

Figure 10 is a photograph of a fig (Masui Dauphin) that was covered with a bag of the present invention and allowed to ripen fully while still on the tree, without the application of pesticides. It is nearly impossible to allow a fig to ripen fully while still on the tree, but this has been made possible by using the fruit bag of the present invention. Figure 10(a) shows the exterior, and Figure 10(b) shows the fig in half. Whether it can be sold on the market is another matter, but there is no sign of decay and it is at least in a state where it can be eaten. In contrast, Figure 10(c) shows an example of a fig that was left unbagged. It has ants infesting it and is no longer worthy of eating.

Figure 11(a) is a photograph of peaches harvested using the bag of the present invention and without spraying pesticides. On the other hand, Figure 11(b) is an example of peaches harvested without bagging. Peaches are also a fruit that is susceptible to spoilage, but by using the fruit bag of the present invention, peaches can be harvested that are not eaten by insects or spoiled, even without spraying pesticides.

Figure 12(a) is a photograph of apples harvested using the bag of the present invention and without spraying pesticides. On the other hand, Figure 12(b) shows an example of apples harvested using a conventional paper bag (different variety). In Figure 12(b), the apples have been nibbled by insects despite being bagged.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 outer bag 2 lining 11 (11a to 11d) each side of outer bag 12 opening 16 slit 30 sealing unit 32a, 32b through hole 33a 33b wire that deforms in response to external force A young fruit B branch C fruit stalk

However, if transparent or translucent materials are used for the bags, the inside of the bag can become hot and dry under the summer sun, causing the fruit to get sunburned. To prevent this, a separate umbrella is usually attached to the bag to block direct sunlight.

Furthermore, if the smooth synthetic resin sheet comes into close contact with the surface of the fruit , spoilage bacteria will grow in that area, making it impossible to harvest or causing further spoilage after harvest. This adhesion is caused by the large amount of water vapor that the fruit gives off during its growth process. In other words, the water vapor that the fruit gives off during its growth process turns into droplets on the inner wall of the bag, as shown in Figure 13, and surface tension causes the inner surface of the bag to adhere to the surface of the fruit .

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and there is a need for a fruit bag that can be used to bag young fruits, prevent the surface of the fruit from coming into close contact with the inner surface of the bag, and allow the fruit to be left in that state until harvest without being sunburned, and that does not require the spraying of pesticides.

By providing at least one cut of a predetermined length extending from the outer periphery toward the inside on the outer side and the bottom side of the outer bag, the moisture can be discharged outside the fruit bag.

By inserting the mesh lining, the outer bag and the fruit face each other across the lining threads (lines), preventing them from coming into contact with each other. This prevents the outer bag from sticking to the fruit surface. Furthermore, the mesh retains moisture released by the fruit for a long time, preventing the bag from drying out too much. This moisture is then gradually released to the outside of the outer bag through the slits.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a fruit bag according to the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a sealing unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a procedure for using a fruit bag using the sealing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a continuation of the procedure of FIG. 3; 1A to 1C are diagrams showing the steps of opening the fruit bag of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a sealing unit according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the procedure for using a fruit bag using the sealing unit of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a continuation of FIG. 7 . FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional fruit bag. 1 is a photograph showing an example and a comparative example for figs. 1 is a photograph showing an example and a comparative example of peaches. 1 is a photograph showing an example and a comparative example of apples. This is a photo showing an example of the "sweat" that fruit produces.

<Prerequisites>
Fruit-rotting bacteria are present on the surface of flowers or young fruit to some extent, and grow as ants and thrips swarm around them. Furthermore, as explained below, the applicant has demonstrated through the implementation of the invention disclosed in JP 2019-201573 A that bagging young fruit in non-breathable synthetic resin materials suppresses the growth of spoilage bacteria and produces fruit that is less susceptible to spoilage. However, when bagging young fruit in non-breathable synthetic resin materials, the temperature inside the bags rises and dries out on sunny days, causing 10% to 20% of the bagged young fruit to become "sunburned."

The upper edge 11a of the outer bag 1 forms an opening 12, and the left and right side edges 11b and 11c and the lower edge 11d of the outer bag are sealed. The outer periphery of the outer bag is formed with a plurality of drainage slits 16. The slits 16 are simply narrow cuts made with scissors to a predetermined depth and a predetermined length (e.g., about 1 cm) inward. Because they are narrow, they prevent pests such as thrips from entering, but allow water inside to drain out.

Furthermore, the inner lining 2 has a certain degree of elasticity, which allows the fruit bag to expand like a skirt from the tie opening, preventing direct contact between the fruit surface and the inner surface of the outer bag 1, especially when the fruit is young, and preventing contact between most of the fruit surface and the inner surface (lining) of the outer bag even after the fruit has ripened.

<Usage procedure>
( Fruit bag using the sealing unit of Example 1)
The procedure for using the fruit bag using the sealing unit 30 of Example 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5. The length of the pedicel B connecting the young fruit A to the branch B varies depending on the fruit species. In figs, the pedicel B is an extension of the fruit, and is thinner than the fruit. In peaches, the pedicel is only a few millimeters long at most.

( Fruit bag using the sealing unit of Example 2)
The procedure for using the fruit bag using the sealing unit 30 of Example 2 will be described below with reference to Figures 7 and 8. The fruit bag using the sealing unit 30 of Example 2 is suitable for fruit with an extremely short stalk B connecting the fruit A to the branch B (e.g., peaches, usually about 2 mm long).

Next, in the fruit bag shown in Figure 9, in which an iron wire is embedded in one end of the upper end of the bag, when attaching the bag, it is necessary to wrap the iron wire around the short fruit stalk with the fingers, which is a task that requires skill and can cause damage to the fruit.

<Examples of harvested fruits>
As described above, the present invention (1) provides a strong seal at the fruit stalk of the fruit bag opening 12, preventing rainwater from entering. (2) The fruit itself breathes and releases moisture from its surface, but the mesh lining prevents the fruit from adhering to the outer bag, preventing the growth of spoilage bacteria. (3) In addition, slits around the outer bag allow moisture to evaporate easily, further enhancing the effect of (2). (4) The outer bag opening 12 is sealed using a wire that deforms in response to external forces, making the process of putting the bag on and taking it off extremely efficient.

Figure 10 is a photograph of a fig (Masui Dauphin) that was bagged with the present invention and allowed to ripen fully while still attached to the tree without the application of pesticides. It is nearly impossible to ripen a fig while it is still attached to the tree, but this has been made possible by using the fruit bag of the present invention. Figure 10(a) shows the external appearance, and Figure 10(b) shows the fig in half. Whether it can be sold on the market is another matter, but there is no sign of decay and it is at least in a state where it can be eaten. In contrast, Figure 10(c) shows an example of a fig that was left unbagged. It has ants infesting it and is no longer worthy of eating.

Figure 11(a) is a photograph of peaches harvested using the bag of the present invention without spraying pesticides. On the other hand, Figure 11(b) is an example of peaches harvested without bagging. Peaches are also a fruit that is susceptible to spoilage, but by using the fruit bag of the present invention, peaches can be harvested that are not eaten by insects or spoiled, even without spraying pesticides.

Claims (2)

an outer bag made of a transparent synthetic resin sheet, having a thickness of 0.03 to 0.06 mm so that it will not be punctured by beetles when bitten, and which will deform in response to the force of wind when the wind blows, and which has an opening at the top edge;
A mesh lining is disposed inside the outer bag and provides a gap between the inner surface of the outer bag and the fruit to prevent them from coming into close contact with each other.
A fruit bag characterized by comprising: a fruit bag having a 2. The bag for fruit trees according to claim 1, wherein at least one slit having a predetermined length, which is a narrow cut, is provided on the side and bottom edges of the outer bag.