Controlled Atmosphere Package for Bananas

Abstract

A controlled atmosphere package for respiring fruits and vegetables, particularly for bananas, is disclosed. The package has a convex outer wall and an atmosphere control element that comprises at least one hole in the container bottom which is placed close to the wall opposite the convex wall. A selective gas-permeable membrane is attached to the container bottom in such a way that the atmosphere control element is hermetically covered by the membrane.

1 . A controlled atmosphere package, which comprises a container with an atmosphere control element, wherein the said container has walls, a bottom, and is sealed hermetically from above by a polymer film; wherein one of the container walls is of an outward convex shape, the atmosphere control element comprises one or more holes in the container bottom and is placed near the wall which is opposite to the convex wall, and wherein a selective gas-permeable membrane is attached to the container bottom in such a way that the said holes are hermetically covered by part of the said membrane. 
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  which contains at least two bananas. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein said bananas are placed close to one another near the container walls and the convex side of each banana is facing the container wall which is shaped convexly outward. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the container walls and bottom are rigid. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the container walls are transparent. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the container bottom is transparent. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein collars are present on top of the container wall and the said polymer film is attached hermetically to the said collars. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the corners of the container bottom include convex outward areas. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the said selective gas permeable membrane is attached to the container bottom from the inside. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the said membrane is attached to the container bottom in such a way that there are membrane parts that are not attached to the container bottom and the area of these parts is greater than the area of the said holes. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the said selective gas permeable membrane is attached to the container bottom along the membrane perimeter in such a way that the middle part of the membrane is not attached to the container bottom and the area of this part is greater than the area of the said holes. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the container bottom in the place where the said holes are located is a convex section that faces the inside of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the bananas with the similar surface curvature are placed in the container. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein a banana with a lesser surface curvature is placed near the convex wall of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the bananas placed in the container are characterized by surface curvature that increases as the bananas are placed further away from the convex wall of the container.