Package configured to preserve perishable product, and method of making and using same

Abstract

A package formed from film including a first compartment and a second compartment. Each compartment can be sealed except for one or more unsealed portions between the first and second compartments. The first compartment can be configured to hold one or more perishable product. The second compartment can be configured to hold at least one active member.

1 . A package formed from film, the package comprising:
 a first compartment configured to hold one or more perishable product;   a second compartment configured to hold at least one active member, the at least one active member having at least one of absorbing, adsorbing, or releasing activity or capacity, the combined first and second compartments being sealed from an external environment of the package; and   a separator extending between and separating the first compartment and the second compartment, the separator including one or more unsealed portions and one or more sealed portions,   wherein gas within either the first or second compartment is capable of flowing between the first and second compartments through the one or more unsealed portions such that the active member is configured to preserve or extend the useful life of the one or more perishable product,   wherein the one or more unsealed portions are sufficiently small such that the one or more perishable product is not capable of moving from the first compartment to the second compartment through the one or more unsealed portions, and   wherein the one or more unsealed portions are sufficiently small such that the active member is not capable of moving from the second compartment to the first compartment through the one or more unsealed portions.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the package is formed using a form fill and seal machine. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more unsealed portions are spaced-apart and extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the at least one active member. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the combined first and second compartments are hermetically sealed except for the one or more unsealed portions between the first and second compartments. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active member comprises an entrained polymer film having a base polymer and an active agent. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the entrained polymer film further includes a channeling agent. 
     
     
         8 . A system for preserving foodstuff, the system comprising:
 foodstuff;   at least one active member in the form of a film having at least one of absorbing, adsorbing, or releasing activity or capacity; and   a package formed from a single roll of film, the package comprising a first compartment, a second compartment, and a separator extending between and separating the first compartment and the second compartment, the first compartment being configured to hold the foodstuff, the second compartment being configured to hold the at least one active member, the combined first and second compartments being sealed from an external environment of the package, the separator including one or more unsealed portions and one or more sealed portions,   wherein gas within either the first or second compartment is capable of flowing between the first and second compartments through the one or more unsealed portions such that the active member is configured to preserve or extend the useful life of the one or more perishable product,   wherein the one or more unsealed portions are sufficiently small such that the foodstuff is not capable of moving from the first compartment to the second compartment through the one or more unsealed portions, and   wherein the one or more unsealed portions are sufficiently small such that the active member is not capable of moving from the second compartment to the first compartment through the one or more unsealed portions.   each compartment being sealed except for one or more unsealed portions between the first and second compartments, the first compartment holding the foodstuff, the second compartment holding the at least one active member.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one active member comprises an entrained polymer film having a base polymer and an active agent. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the entrained polymer film further includes a channeling agent. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one active member is attached to an interior surface of the roll of film. 
     
     
         13 . A form fill and seal machine configured to form a package from film, the packing including a first compartment configured to hold one or more perishable product and a second compartment configured to hold an active member that preserves or extends the life of the one or more perishable product, the first compartment being separate from the second compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The form fill and seal machine of  claim 13 , wherein the active member is in the form of a film having at least one of absorbing, adsorbing, or releasing activity or capacity. 
     
     
         15 . The form fill and seal machine of  claim 13 , wherein the machine is configured to create a separator between the first compartment and the second compartment, the separator including one or more unsealed portions and one or more sealed portions, the separator being configured to permit gas flow therethrough but prevent the one or more perishable product and the active member from passing therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The form fill and seal machine of  claim 15 , wherein the machine includes at least one sealing bar configured to form the separator, the at least one sealing bar being configured to seal at least a portion of the film to itself. 
     
     
         17 . The form fill and seal machine of  claim 13 , wherein the machine comprises two laterally spaced-apart vertical sealing bars. 
     
     
         18 . The form fill and seal machine of  claim 17 , wherein one of the two laterally spaced-apart vertical sealing bars is vertically higher than the other of the two laterally spaced-apart vertical sealing bars. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The form fill and seal machine of  claim 13 , wherein the machine comprises at least three pair of opposing horizontal sealing bars. 
     
     
         21 . The form fill and seal machine of  claim 13 , wherein the machines creates the package from a single roll of film. 
     
     
         22 . A method of forming a package with a form fill and seal machine, the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) sealing a first portion of a film to itself using a pair of opposing horizontal first sealing bars or jaws;   (b) sealing a second portion of the film to itself using at least one second vertical sealing bar or jaw;   (c) sealing a third portion of the film to itself using at least one third vertical sealing bar or jaw, the third portion forming a separator extending between a first compartment of the package and a second compartment of the package, the separator comprising one or more unsealed portions and one or more sealed portions; and   (d) sealing a fourth portion of the film to itself to enclose the first compartment and the second compartment.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein step (b) is completed before step (c). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein step (c) is completed before step (b) begins. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one second vertical sealing bar or jaw of step (b) includes a par of opposing second vertical sealing bars or jaws. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one third vertical sealing bar or jaw of step (c) includes a par of opposing third vertical sealing bars or jaws. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein step (d) further includes cutting the film. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising depositing product into the first compartment and at least one active member into the second compartment. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one active member comprises an entrained polymer film having a base polymer and an active agent. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein:
 gas is capable of flowing between the first and second compartments through the one or more unsealed portions such that the at least one active member is configured to preserve or extend the useful life of the product,   wherein the one or more unsealed portions are sufficiently small such that the product is not capable of moving from the first compartment to the second compartment through the one or more unsealed portions, and   wherein the one or more unsealed portions are sufficiently small such that the at least one active member is not capable of moving from the second compartment to the first compartment through the one or more unsealed portions.