TWI894630B - Fresh-keeping packaging structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A fresh-keeping packaging structure comprises a bag with at least one vent hole, allowing the gas inside the bag to flow out through the vent hole. An electrostatic filter or a photocatalytic filter is positioned within the bag at a location corresponding to the vent hole to filter the gas inside the bag. The filtration provided by the electrostatic filter or photocatalytic filter effectively reduces the bacterial count within the bag, ensuring the purity of the gas inside the bag. Furthermore, the structure effectively adsorbs and kills lactic acid bacteria that are activated by the anaerobic environment inside the bag, thereby enabling the structure to provide long-term refrigerated freshness preservation.

Description

Fresh-keeping packaging structure

The present invention relates to a packaging bag structure, and in particular to a fresh-keeping packaging structure that can provide long-term refrigeration and fresh-keeping effects.

Packaged garlic sold in traditional markets or supermarkets requires that the harvested garlic be dried in sunlight or ovens before being packaged and sold. However, the stored garlic remains a living organism, and from maturity to aging, it continues to respire. This respiration includes both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration involves chemical reactions with oxygen, which oxidize and decompose the garlic's organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide, water, and heat.

It can be seen that when garlic is stored in a packaging structure, it must rely on the cooperation of the three environmental conditions of oxygen, temperature and humidity in the packaging. If the oxygen content of the environment is sufficient, the temperature of the environment is between 2℃ and 25℃, and the humidity of the environment is in the range of 65~70%, it will be conducive to the respiration of garlic and cause the garlic to germinate, resulting in the taste and flavor of garlic deteriorating with the degree of germination. Therefore, how to inhibit the respiration of garlic and allow the garlic to enter the air during storage is the key. The dormant state, which slows oxidation, is a crucial consideration in garlic packaging. Currently, garlic packaging features a vent hole with a check valve installed inside. This valve only allows air to escape from the bag, preventing outside air from entering the packaging. This allows moisture produced by the garlic's respiration to escape through the valve, preventing the bag from over-expanding or becoming too humid.

On the other hand, because the oxygen inside the packaging is limited and outside air cannot enter the packaging, when the garlic gradually consumes the oxygen in the bag through respiration, its respiration slows down and it enters a dormant state. Although this can prevent the garlic from sprouting, because the oxygen inside the bag has been depleted and outside air cannot enter the bag through the one-way valve, an anaerobic environment will form inside the bag after a period of time. This anaerobic environment is actually conducive to the fermentation process of organisms. The reason for this is that the lactic acid bacteria used for fermentation (such as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris), Pediococcus cerevisiae, P. pentosaceus, and certain Leuconostoc spp., among others, are inhibited by oxygen concentrations above a certain level. Conversely, they become active in an anaerobic environment. Therefore, initially, after the garlic is packaged, the oxygen concentration in the bag is sufficient, which inhibits these lactic acid bacteria. However, once the oxygen in the bag is depleted, these lactic acid bacteria become active due to the anaerobic environment created, prompting the garlic to ferment. This suggests that while conventional packaging structures can address the problem of garlic sprouting due to respiration, they also create the problem of garlic being easily fermented, leaving room for improvement.

In view of this, how to improve the above problems is the primary issue that the present invention aims to solve.

The primary objective of this invention is to provide a fresh-keeping packaging structure with extremely small vent holes on its surface. Inside the bag, corresponding to the vent holes, a filter membrane composed of an electrostatic filter or a photocatalytic filter is installed. Through the filtering effect provided by this membrane, the present invention effectively reduces the bacterial count within the bag, ensuring the purity of the gas within the bag. Simultaneously, it effectively adsorbs and kills lactic acid bacteria that become active in the anaerobic environment within the bag, thereby enabling the present invention to provide long-term refrigerated preservation.

To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the present invention provides a fresh-keeping packaging structure comprising: A bag having a storage space, the bag having at least one vent hole connecting the storage space to the outside, allowing gas within the storage space to flow out through the vent hole. A filter film composed of an electrostatic filter film or a photosensitive medium filter film is disposed in the storage space at a position corresponding to the vent hole to filter the gas within the storage space.

Preferably, the bag has an inner surface inside the bag and an outer surface outside the bag, the vent hole passes through the outer surface and the inner surface, and the filter membrane is relatively covered on the inner surface with the vent hole.

Preferably, the pore diameter of the vent hole is between 0.45 μm and 0.9 mm.

Preferably, the accommodating space is provided with a one-way valve on the inner surface corresponding to the air vent, and the one-way valve has a front side in an open shape and a rear side in a closed shape. The front side is formed with a coupling portion for surrounding the air vent, and the rear side is provided with at least one through-hole that can be connected to the air vent. The through-hole has an air outlet end facing the coupling portion and an air inlet end facing the accommodating space and opposite to the air outlet end, and a diaphragm is relatively covered on the air outlet end of the through-hole. When the gas pressure generated in the accommodating space is greater than that capable of pushing open the diaphragm, the gas in the accommodating space can enter the air vent through the through-hole and be discharged out of the bag in one direction, and the filter membrane is relatively covered on the air inlet end of the through-hole.

The above-mentioned objects and advantages of the present invention can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

Please refer to Figures 1 to 3, which show a first embodiment of the fresh-keeping packaging structure provided by the present invention, which mainly includes a bag body 1, wherein:

The bag body 1 has a storage space 11 formed inside thereof for storing food (e.g., garlic). As shown in FIG. 1 , the bag body 1 is in the shape of a three-dimensional bag and has an inner surface 12 inside the bag body 1 and an outer surface 13 outside the bag body 1. The top of the bag body 1 has a seal 14. When the food in the storage space 11 is to be taken out, the seal 14 can be opened to remove the package and take out the food in the bag body 1. The bottom of the bag body 1 faces downward. The bag body 1 is formed with a bottom surface 15. The bag body 1 can be uprighted by placing the bottom surface 15 downward. At least one ventilation hole 16 is provided on the bag body 1, extending through the outer surface 13 and the inner surface 12. The ventilation hole 16 can be connected to the outside at one end and to the accommodating space 11 at the other end. The ventilation hole 16 allows the gas in the accommodating space 11 to flow to the outside in an appropriate amount, and also allows the outside air to enter the accommodating space 11 in an appropriate amount.

Furthermore, the bag body 1 is provided with a filter 2 composed of an electrostatic filter or a photosensitive medium filter at a position of the accommodating space 11 corresponding to the vent hole 16. In this embodiment, the filter 2 is relatively covered on the inner surface 12 provided with the vent hole 16. Among them, the electrostatic filter is made of ultrafine electrostatic fiber. The electrostatic attraction generated by the long-lasting electrostatic charge on the fiber can effectively absorb and capture pollutants and bacteria in the air, thereby generating a forced filtering effect on the gas around the filter 2 and the gas passing through the air vents 16 to block bacteria, thereby effectively reducing the amount of bacteria in the storage space 11 of the bag 1; and the photocatalytic filter is made by coating the filter with nano-scale titanium dioxide ( _TiO2 ). Through titanium dioxide ( _TiO2 ) can destroy the cell membrane of bacteria, thereby producing a forced sterilization filtering effect on the gas around the filter membrane 2 and the gas passing through the air vents 16, and can also effectively reduce the amount of bacteria in the bag 1 containing space 11 to ensure the purity of the gas in the bag 1 containing space 11.

Next, the following describes the changes in the environment in the bag 1 and the garlic when the fresh-keeping packaging structure provided in the first embodiment of the present invention is applied to garlic packaging:

During packaging, the garlic remains active and can continue to respire and grow. During this respiration process, the garlic releases carbon dioxide at a high rate, causing the gas in the storage space 11 to flow. When the gas in the storage space 11 flows near the filter membrane 2, which is composed of an electrostatic filter membrane or a photocatalytic filter membrane and is located on the inner surface 12 of the bag 1, it effectively captures pollutants and bacteria in the gas through electrostatic adsorption (when using an electrostatic filter membrane), or kills mold through photocatalysis (when using a photocatalytic filter membrane). This reduces the bacterial count in the storage space 11 of the bag 1, effectively preventing garlic deterioration caused by excessive bacterial growth.

Then, when the garlic gradually consumes the oxygen in the bag 1 due to respiration, the garlic will enter a dormant state and suspend its respiration. The air vents 16 allow the storage space 11 to maintain a moderate flow with the outside world to avoid the formation of an anaerobic environment in the storage space 11. At this time, the filter membrane 2 composed of an electrostatic filter membrane or a photocatalytic filter membrane can filter the external gas entering through the air vents 16. The filter membrane 2 performs a forced bacterial blocking and sterilization filtering action, thereby effectively preventing external pollutants or bacteria from entering the storage space 11 and contaminating the garlic. At the same time, the filter membrane 2 can also effectively adsorb and kill lactic acid bacteria that are active in the storage space 11 due to the anaerobic environment. As a result, the fresh-keeping packaging structure provided by the first embodiment of the present invention has the effect of providing long-term refrigeration and preservation.

Furthermore, the size of the vent holes 16 is proportional to the exhaust speed of the garlic. Specifically, the vent holes 16 can limit the exhaust speed of the gas from the bag 1 according to the size of the vent holes. In order to make the exhaust speed of the gas from the bag 1 less than the gas production speed of the garlic during respiration, so that the gas in the bag 1 can keep flowing toward the outside, the applicant has found through testing that the vent hole 16 should be smaller than On the other hand, the diameter of the ventilation holes 16 must be carefully considered and not too small. Otherwise, after the garlic enters dormancy, the ventilation holes 16 will not allow enough air to enter the bag 1 to replenish the oxygen concentration. Therefore, the diameter of the ventilation holes 16 should be greater than 0.45 micrometers (μm) to prevent the bag 1 from quickly forming an anaerobic environment after the garlic enters dormancy.

As shown in FIG. 4 , a second embodiment of the fresh-keeping packaging structure provided by the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that a one-way valve 3 is fixedly provided on the inner surface 12 of the bag body 1 corresponding to the vent hole 16 by bonding or welding. The one-way valve 3 has an open front side 31 and a closed rear side 32. The front side 31 of the one-way valve 3 is formed with a The connecting portion 311 is provided around the vent hole 16, and at least one through hole 33 is provided on the rear side 32 of the one-way valve 3, which can be connected to the vent hole 16. The through hole 33 has an air outlet 331 facing the connecting portion 311 and an air inlet 332 facing the accommodating space 11 and opposite to the air outlet 331. A diaphragm 34 covers the air outlet 331 of the through hole 33. When the bag 1 accommodates the space 11, the air inlet 332 is provided. When the gas pressure generated in the bag is greater than the pressure that can push the diaphragm 34 open, the gas in the accommodating space 11 can enter the vent 16 through the perforation 33 and be discharged out of the bag 1 in one direction. The filter 2 composed of an electrostatic filter or a photosensitive filter is relatively covered on the air inlet end 332 of the perforation 33, so that the filter 2 can also be located at the position corresponding to the accommodating space 11 and the vent 16, thereby When the gas flows near the filter membrane 2 composed of an electrostatic filter membrane or a photocatalytic filter membrane, it can also effectively absorb and capture pollutants and bacteria in the gas through electrostatic adsorption (when using an electrostatic filter membrane), or kill mold through photocatalysis (when using a photocatalytic filter membrane). This reduces the amount of bacteria in the storage space 11 of the bag body 1 and effectively prevents garlic deterioration caused by excessive bacterial growth.

Furthermore, when the garlic gradually consumes the oxygen in the bag 1 due to respiration, causing an anaerobic environment to gradually form in the storage space 11, the lactic acid bacteria species activated by the anaerobic environment in the storage space 11 can be effectively adsorbed and killed through its filter membrane 2. As a result, the fresh-keeping packaging structure provided by the second embodiment of the present invention also has the effect of providing long-term refrigeration and preservation. Furthermore, conventional one-way valves 3 are affected by factors such as their processing precision, material, and operating environment, and are unable to provide complete one-way sealing. Therefore, some external gas may still enter the accommodating space 11 through the gaps around the diaphragm 34. However, the second embodiment of the present invention, by covering the one-way valve 3 with a filter membrane 2 composed of an electrostatic filter membrane or a photosensitive medium filter membrane, can forcibly filter and sterilize the gas entering through the air vent 16, thereby effectively preventing external pollutants or bacteria from contaminating the internal food, and is also highly practical.

In addition, in other possible applications of the second embodiment, the diaphragm 34 in the one-way valve 3 can also be installed, so that the perforation 33 on the rear side 32 of the one-way valve 3 can be directly connected to the vent 16 on the bag body 1, thereby allowing the accommodating space 11 in the bag body 1 to maintain a moderate flow with the outside world to avoid the formation of an anaerobic environment in the accommodating space 11. At this time, the air is then passed through the electrostatic filter or photocatalytic medium. The filter membrane 2, formed of a membrane, can filter and sterilize external air entering through the air vents 16 and perforations 33, effectively preventing external pollutants or bacteria from entering the storage space 11 and contaminating the garlic. At the same time, the filter membrane 2 can also effectively adsorb and kill lactic acid bacteria that are active in the anaerobic environment in the storage space 11, thereby providing long-term refrigeration and preservation.

However, the disclosure of the above embodiments is only used to illustrate the present invention and is not used to limit the present invention. Any replacement of equivalent elements should still fall within the scope of the present invention.

In summary, the foregoing will enable those skilled in the art to understand that the present invention can indeed achieve the aforementioned objectives and complies with the provisions of the Patent Law, and therefore, an application is filed in accordance with the law.

1: Bag body 11: Storage space 12: Inner surface 13: Outer surface 14: Seal 15: Bottom 16: Ventilation hole 2: Filter membrane 3: Check valve 31: Front side 311: Junction 32: Back side 33: Perforation 331: Air outlet 332: Air inlet 34: Diaphragm

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic structural view of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a schematic structural view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

1: Bag body

13: External surface

14: Sealing

15: Bottom

16: Ventilation holes

2: Filter

Claims (5)

A fresh-keeping packaging structure comprises: a bag having a storage space; at least one vent hole is provided in the bag, connecting the storage space to the outside, allowing gas in the storage space to flow to the outside through the vent hole; and a filter membrane composed of an electrostatic filter is provided in the storage space at a position corresponding to the vent hole. The electrostatic attraction generated by the filter membrane absorbs and captures pollutants or bacteria in the air, thereby filtering gas entering the storage space through the vent hole. The fresh-keeping packaging structure as described in claim 1, wherein the bag has an inner surface inside the bag and an outer surface outside the bag, the vent hole passes through the outer surface and the inner surface, and the filter film is disposed opposite to the inner surface having the vent hole. The fresh-keeping packaging structure as described in claim 1, wherein the pore diameter of the ventilation hole is between 0.45 microns and 0.9 mm. The fresh-keeping packaging structure as described in claim 1, wherein the accommodating space is provided with a one-way valve on the inner surface corresponding to the vent hole, and the filter membrane is covered on one side of the one-way valve facing the accommodating space. The fresh-keeping packaging structure described in claim 4, wherein the one-way valve has an open front side and a closed rear side. The front side is formed with a joint portion surrounding the vent hole, and the rear side is provided with at least one through-hole communicating with the vent hole. The through-hole has an outlet end facing the joint portion and an inlet end facing the container space and opposite the outlet end. A membrane covers the outlet end of the through-hole. When the gas pressure generated in the container space exceeds the pressure that pushes the membrane open, gas in the container space can enter the vent hole through the through-hole and be discharged one-way out of the bag. The filter membrane covers the inlet end of the through-hole.