CA2149019C - Apparatus for forced air cooling of produce - Google Patents
Apparatus for forced air cooling of produceInfo
- Publication number
- CA2149019C CA2149019C CA002149019A CA2149019A CA2149019C CA 2149019 C CA2149019 C CA 2149019C CA 002149019 A CA002149019 A CA 002149019A CA 2149019 A CA2149019 A CA 2149019A CA 2149019 C CA2149019 C CA 2149019C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- air
- produce
- seal
- pressure
- room
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
- A23B7/00—Preservation or chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables
- A23B7/14—Preserving or ripening with chemicals not covered by groups A23B7/08 or A23B7/10
- A23B7/144—Preserving or ripening with chemicals not covered by groups A23B7/08 or A23B7/10 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
- A23B7/148—Preserving or ripening with chemicals not covered by groups A23B7/08 or A23B7/10 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/005—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces in cold rooms
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/065—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air return
- F25D2317/0655—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air return through the top
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/066—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air supply
- F25D2317/0664—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the air supply from the side
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
- Press Drives And Press Lines (AREA)
- Motor Or Generator Cooling System (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
- Ventilation (AREA)
Abstract
A novel integrated pressure cooling system for produce employing, inter alia, a multiplicity of pressurization units (4), low-velocity cooling coils and adjustable horizontal and vertical sealing means (24), together providing for uniform air flow through individual, compartmentalized pallets stacks (8).
Description
2 ~ ~ ~ f3 1 ~3' Pcr/US93/10957 ~,~
APPARATUS FOR FORCED-AIR
CC)OLING OF PRODUCE
Technical Fleld 2 The subiect invention relates to the controlled ripening of fresh produce, 3 in general, and to the forced-air or pressure cooling of b~n~n~, in parhcular.
APPARATUS FOR FORCED-AIR
CC)OLING OF PRODUCE
Technical Fleld 2 The subiect invention relates to the controlled ripening of fresh produce, 3 in general, and to the forced-air or pressure cooling of b~n~n~, in parhcular.
4 The same devices and methods can also be successfully applied to other foods and non-food items which might benefit by controlled air and te"~ dture 6 applications.
7 Back~round Art 8 It is a well-known fact to those involved in tlle industry of produce 9 management that the market life of produce is a function of time and temperature; the degree of ripening and subsequent deterioration of fruits and 11 vegetables is related directly to the duration and intensity of heat exposure.
12 Thus, effective protection of the produce is dependant upon efficient means of 13 temperature control from harvest through final distribution.
14 ; Delivery of produce to market, such that suitable shelf life may beaccomplished, requires precise regulation of ripening time by importers and 16 wholesale distributors. Several methods of regulating produce ripening times 17 exist and are described in detail in an article authored by F.G. Mitchell, Rehe 18 Guillou and R.A. Parsons entitled Commer~ial Cooling of Fruits and .. , ~, ~
19 : Vé~etables, University of California, Agricultural Publications, Berkeley, CA, 2~ 1972. One such method is forced-air or pressure cooling. Produce can be air-21 cooled rapidly by producing a dif-ference in air pressure on opposite sides of 22 the containers in which the fruits or vegetables are shipped. Cooled air passes 23 across this p~s~re gradient carrying away produce heat and thereby reguladng 4 the te~ a-ture and, more ~ fir~lly, the ripenin~ rate of the produce to 25 ! ~which the air is e~pose~. To f~ilit~te this process, special ripçnin~ rooms, or 26 chambers as they are so,e1;.nes r~,fe~led, must be constructed.
27 To date, several de~i~n~ have been sugge~led, each having in common a ~ ~-28 floor, ceiling and front, rear and side walls. These rooms are of suitable 29 ~ ~iimen~ion~ to enclose two spaced rcws of the ps~lleti7.ed produce conPiners which, in some instances, are st~r~ed in two or more tiers to rn~Yinli7e space.
31 U.S. Patent No. 4,824,685 to Bianco, issued April 25, 1989, teaches one such ",~.~
.
W094/10849 PCI/US93/~ss7 ~
design. In Bianco, a twG-tiered chamber is described whereby the two rows are 2 spaced apart from one another to define an interstitial volume between the rows 3 which substantially forms a low-pressure plenum. There is also sufficient 4 spacing between the chamber ceiling and walls and the inserted p~l1Pti7ie~
7 Back~round Art 8 It is a well-known fact to those involved in tlle industry of produce 9 management that the market life of produce is a function of time and temperature; the degree of ripening and subsequent deterioration of fruits and 11 vegetables is related directly to the duration and intensity of heat exposure.
12 Thus, effective protection of the produce is dependant upon efficient means of 13 temperature control from harvest through final distribution.
14 ; Delivery of produce to market, such that suitable shelf life may beaccomplished, requires precise regulation of ripening time by importers and 16 wholesale distributors. Several methods of regulating produce ripening times 17 exist and are described in detail in an article authored by F.G. Mitchell, Rehe 18 Guillou and R.A. Parsons entitled Commer~ial Cooling of Fruits and .. , ~, ~
19 : Vé~etables, University of California, Agricultural Publications, Berkeley, CA, 2~ 1972. One such method is forced-air or pressure cooling. Produce can be air-21 cooled rapidly by producing a dif-ference in air pressure on opposite sides of 22 the containers in which the fruits or vegetables are shipped. Cooled air passes 23 across this p~s~re gradient carrying away produce heat and thereby reguladng 4 the te~ a-ture and, more ~ fir~lly, the ripenin~ rate of the produce to 25 ! ~which the air is e~pose~. To f~ilit~te this process, special ripçnin~ rooms, or 26 chambers as they are so,e1;.nes r~,fe~led, must be constructed.
27 To date, several de~i~n~ have been sugge~led, each having in common a ~ ~-28 floor, ceiling and front, rear and side walls. These rooms are of suitable 29 ~ ~iimen~ion~ to enclose two spaced rcws of the ps~lleti7.ed produce conPiners which, in some instances, are st~r~ed in two or more tiers to rn~Yinli7e space.
31 U.S. Patent No. 4,824,685 to Bianco, issued April 25, 1989, teaches one such ",~.~
.
W094/10849 PCI/US93/~ss7 ~
design. In Bianco, a twG-tiered chamber is described whereby the two rows are 2 spaced apart from one another to define an interstitial volume between the rows 3 which substantially forms a low-pressure plenum. There is also sufficient 4 spacing between the chamber ceiling and walls and the inserted p~l1Pti7ie~
5 produce to define an int.erstitial volume which forms a high-pressure air 6 plenum. This is a cornmonly used configuration and is further provided with an7 interior false wall structure arranged within the chamber which supports an air-8 handling unit closely adjacent the ceiling of the chamber to provide a source of 9 controlled pressurized air flow and a plurality of high performance exhaust lO blowers to draw air out of the low pressure plenum. In this manner, the above-l l described air pressure differential is created~ Most current pressurized 12 chambers, like that of Bianco, use rear-of-room evacuation or suction fans and 13 a single, rear-of-room air-handling unit. These systems, by their very nature, l4 cannot provide uniform climate control to individual p~lleti7ed stacks, some OI
15 which are further from the unit than others. Downstream stacks (stacks furthest 16 from the unit) receive lower air pressure and, thelefore, demand increases in air 17 unit output to colur,e.-~te. Regardless, the net result is uneven cooling which 18 cannot be ~Ati~fA~ctorily avoided with this configuration.
~ - .
19 Prior art systems norrnally utilize a tarp arrangement placed over the top and end of a spacing between the two rows of pallets to produce a closed low-~ 21 pressure plenum area and to separate same from the high-pressure air space.
- ~- 22 Large fans are utilized to produce a pressure differential between the tAIp-sealed 23 plenum and the high-presa. ~ air space on the opposite sides of the sP~kP~d ~, 24 pallets. The air introduced by the _ir-hAn-llin~ unit is forced by the pressure di~re~ntial between the high-pressure air space and the low-pressure plenum to 26 flow through opçninè~ formed in the sides of the boxes, around the produce 27 cont~ined therein, and into the low pl~S~ plenum to be exh~ te~ by the ,:. .... :i -~ 28 same fans. In this ~nal ner, a forced air circulation is caused to flow uniformly . ' ' ~ ~ ~ 29 throughout the produce load in the chAmbe~ to thereby uniformly control the ~ .-- ~ 30 te-npe~dlure of the produce with a ,.. i~ A1 ~ npe-~ture di~fential throughout 3l the produce load. The te.n~ature and the air rate of the air introduced into 32 the chamber by the air-h~n~lin~ unit may be controlled in an attempt to achieve , 21~!3019 ~
WO 94/10849 - PCI/US93/10957 :
~"'"" ' ' a desired ripening rate for the produce.
2 These prior art rnetho~ls have various shortcomings which has left the3 effectiveness of such present room designs with much to be desired. I~ack of 4 uniformity in air flow through the pq11eti7ed boxes is the major concern byS users of the prior art room decignc. It would be apl)reciated that the air flow 6 transmitted through the vents within the boxes containing the produce which are 7 p211eti7ed would not be uniform because of what is essentiA1ly a point source 8 pressure introduction from an air-h~qn~ling unit located on one end of the room 9 as shown, for example, in Fig. l of the Bianco, Patent No. 4,824,685. As can be seen in this example, air-handling unit which provides a plurality of fans 11 within a singular air control device provides pressurization from one of the 12 longitudinal ends of the produce ripening room as disclosed in the referenced l3 prior art patent. Though there is more than one fan to provide air flow in the l4 air-h~n~iling unit, the fans are eS~nI;A11Y a point source of air pressurization, 15 ~ given~the larger dimensiors of the room co,ilp~ed to the spacing of each 16 ~ ~ ~ind~vidual fan withio; the air-h~nd1ing unit.
17 ~ ~ Aecordingly, prior art designs with such air-handling units provide an 18 uneven air flow through the p~lle~i7p~d boxes which is dependent on a location l9 of a particular p~11eti7P~d box in relation to the air-hqntl1ing unit. One could 20 appr,ciate that the pressure drop across the outside of the pq11eti7P~ boxes and 21 the formed intelalilial area, ~efe~l~ to as the low-pressure plenum, would vary 22 -as a~ function of the distance of a particular box from the air-handling unit. It is 23 clear that a s~ ifi~nt need exists for a solution that addresses the wide 24 ~;AI;Ol~ and air flow through boxed and ~A11eti7~P~ produce in a ripening room.
25 ~ The ~icting~ art in ri~ning room design does not assure that the air flow will 26 be as unifo,~n as possible in every single produce box stored and being cured 27 therein. With wide v~iatioi~s in air flow given the actual location of a 28 par icular bQx of produce in such an P~ çnin~ room, the user of the 29 room cannot ad~ ately plan or control the rate of ri~ning of the produce in a 3Q unifo~ and efrlr;e~t ~,lanner. The present art does not provide for an adequate 31 design which allows non-uniforrn loA~ling of produce in a ripening room.
32 While adv~nce".ent~ have been made in improving air flow, te.~ dture - ~ .
. ., W094/10849 ~ 0~ PCI/US93/10957 , 4 and humidity control, little progress has been achieved in developing a 2 comprehensive solution that provides for virtually uniform air flow through3 palletized produce boxes. Accurate control of temperature and humidit~, and4 therefore the ripening process, requires uniform pressurization across the '' ' stacked, pAl1eti7ed produce containers so that the air flow is uniforrn through 6 the boxes regardless of where the box is located in the ripening room.
7 The subject invention completely obviates all of the shortcomings of the 8 above-describ~d prior art by providing a novel integrated pressure-cooling - ~ 9 system for produce employing, inter alia, a multiplicity of pressurizing fan units, low-velocity cooling coils and adjustable vertical and horizontal sealingl l means together providing for uniform air flow through individual, 12 compartmentalized pallet stacks.
13 Disclosure of Invention 14 ~ The subject invention more spec-ifi~1!y relates to a subs~nti~l1y improved method for controlling the ripening environment of produce, such as 16 fruits and veg~t~bles and the like. Rather than use the esc~Pn~iA11y point-source 17 applicaoon of a fluid pressure to create an air flow through the pA1lPti7p~ boxes 18 contAinin~ the produce, the ~ closed invention provides a ~ ificqnt ., ~ .
l9 improvement by using a plurality of pressure-inducing fans placed around the ~cl;phelal area of the l;petning room. The present invention describes a 21 ~structure which provides improved air flow sealing to provide a co~ t 22 ~ esi-,re dirÇe~ntial as measured across the width of the ~lleti7ed produce 23 boxes.
24 The present invention su~s1;~n~;A11y increases the control over the ripening process for a given amount of produce. The ripening system of the t' 26 invention genèrally comprises a cool~ng chqmber having a floor and ceiling and 27 front, rear and side walls being of suitable dimenciollc to enclose at least one 28 multiple tiered rows of u~it; eJ and pqlleti7e~ ducc, such as fruits and 29 veget~hles. As in the prior art systems, the two rows of ~q~lleti7e~ produce are spaced apart from one Anoll~e~ to define an intc~litial volume between the rows 3l which su~st~ ;Ally forms a low-pressure plenum. There is sufficient space 32 within this lOW-p~S3.11'~, plenum to allow ;~ ;on and access of the produce ; -,,, .,~
' :
WO 94~10849 2 1 ~ 9 () 1 ~1 PCr/US93/10957 , . :. . .
..
by a worker. There is also sufficient spacing between the chamber ceiling and 2 walls and the inserted palletized produce to create an interstitial volume which 3 forms the high-pressure air plenum which is defined by an apron-like 4 pressurization shelf to which the plurality of pressurization fan units are affixed.
S - An important feature in the present invention is the reduction in need for 6 an interior false wall structure alTanged within the chamber, as set forth in the 7 prior art, because of the application of positive pressure about the peripheral of 8 the room and the apron-like shelf to be described. Accordingly, there is no 9 requirement for tarp-like structures or other devices which must be used to seal 10 the interstitial area within the two palletized rows of the prior art to create the 11 low-pressure plenum area.
15 which are further from the unit than others. Downstream stacks (stacks furthest 16 from the unit) receive lower air pressure and, thelefore, demand increases in air 17 unit output to colur,e.-~te. Regardless, the net result is uneven cooling which 18 cannot be ~Ati~fA~ctorily avoided with this configuration.
~ - .
19 Prior art systems norrnally utilize a tarp arrangement placed over the top and end of a spacing between the two rows of pallets to produce a closed low-~ 21 pressure plenum area and to separate same from the high-pressure air space.
- ~- 22 Large fans are utilized to produce a pressure differential between the tAIp-sealed 23 plenum and the high-presa. ~ air space on the opposite sides of the sP~kP~d ~, 24 pallets. The air introduced by the _ir-hAn-llin~ unit is forced by the pressure di~re~ntial between the high-pressure air space and the low-pressure plenum to 26 flow through opçninè~ formed in the sides of the boxes, around the produce 27 cont~ined therein, and into the low pl~S~ plenum to be exh~ te~ by the ,:. .... :i -~ 28 same fans. In this ~nal ner, a forced air circulation is caused to flow uniformly . ' ' ~ ~ ~ 29 throughout the produce load in the chAmbe~ to thereby uniformly control the ~ .-- ~ 30 te-npe~dlure of the produce with a ,.. i~ A1 ~ npe-~ture di~fential throughout 3l the produce load. The te.n~ature and the air rate of the air introduced into 32 the chamber by the air-h~n~lin~ unit may be controlled in an attempt to achieve , 21~!3019 ~
WO 94/10849 - PCI/US93/10957 :
~"'"" ' ' a desired ripening rate for the produce.
2 These prior art rnetho~ls have various shortcomings which has left the3 effectiveness of such present room designs with much to be desired. I~ack of 4 uniformity in air flow through the pq11eti7ed boxes is the major concern byS users of the prior art room decignc. It would be apl)reciated that the air flow 6 transmitted through the vents within the boxes containing the produce which are 7 p211eti7ed would not be uniform because of what is essentiA1ly a point source 8 pressure introduction from an air-h~qn~ling unit located on one end of the room 9 as shown, for example, in Fig. l of the Bianco, Patent No. 4,824,685. As can be seen in this example, air-handling unit which provides a plurality of fans 11 within a singular air control device provides pressurization from one of the 12 longitudinal ends of the produce ripening room as disclosed in the referenced l3 prior art patent. Though there is more than one fan to provide air flow in the l4 air-h~n~iling unit, the fans are eS~nI;A11Y a point source of air pressurization, 15 ~ given~the larger dimensiors of the room co,ilp~ed to the spacing of each 16 ~ ~ ~ind~vidual fan withio; the air-h~nd1ing unit.
17 ~ ~ Aecordingly, prior art designs with such air-handling units provide an 18 uneven air flow through the p~lle~i7p~d boxes which is dependent on a location l9 of a particular p~11eti7P~d box in relation to the air-hqntl1ing unit. One could 20 appr,ciate that the pressure drop across the outside of the pq11eti7P~ boxes and 21 the formed intelalilial area, ~efe~l~ to as the low-pressure plenum, would vary 22 -as a~ function of the distance of a particular box from the air-handling unit. It is 23 clear that a s~ ifi~nt need exists for a solution that addresses the wide 24 ~;AI;Ol~ and air flow through boxed and ~A11eti7~P~ produce in a ripening room.
25 ~ The ~icting~ art in ri~ning room design does not assure that the air flow will 26 be as unifo,~n as possible in every single produce box stored and being cured 27 therein. With wide v~iatioi~s in air flow given the actual location of a 28 par icular bQx of produce in such an P~ çnin~ room, the user of the 29 room cannot ad~ ately plan or control the rate of ri~ning of the produce in a 3Q unifo~ and efrlr;e~t ~,lanner. The present art does not provide for an adequate 31 design which allows non-uniforrn loA~ling of produce in a ripening room.
32 While adv~nce".ent~ have been made in improving air flow, te.~ dture - ~ .
. ., W094/10849 ~ 0~ PCI/US93/10957 , 4 and humidity control, little progress has been achieved in developing a 2 comprehensive solution that provides for virtually uniform air flow through3 palletized produce boxes. Accurate control of temperature and humidit~, and4 therefore the ripening process, requires uniform pressurization across the '' ' stacked, pAl1eti7ed produce containers so that the air flow is uniforrn through 6 the boxes regardless of where the box is located in the ripening room.
7 The subject invention completely obviates all of the shortcomings of the 8 above-describ~d prior art by providing a novel integrated pressure-cooling - ~ 9 system for produce employing, inter alia, a multiplicity of pressurizing fan units, low-velocity cooling coils and adjustable vertical and horizontal sealingl l means together providing for uniform air flow through individual, 12 compartmentalized pallet stacks.
13 Disclosure of Invention 14 ~ The subject invention more spec-ifi~1!y relates to a subs~nti~l1y improved method for controlling the ripening environment of produce, such as 16 fruits and veg~t~bles and the like. Rather than use the esc~Pn~iA11y point-source 17 applicaoon of a fluid pressure to create an air flow through the pA1lPti7p~ boxes 18 contAinin~ the produce, the ~ closed invention provides a ~ ificqnt ., ~ .
l9 improvement by using a plurality of pressure-inducing fans placed around the ~cl;phelal area of the l;petning room. The present invention describes a 21 ~structure which provides improved air flow sealing to provide a co~ t 22 ~ esi-,re dirÇe~ntial as measured across the width of the ~lleti7ed produce 23 boxes.
24 The present invention su~s1;~n~;A11y increases the control over the ripening process for a given amount of produce. The ripening system of the t' 26 invention genèrally comprises a cool~ng chqmber having a floor and ceiling and 27 front, rear and side walls being of suitable dimenciollc to enclose at least one 28 multiple tiered rows of u~it; eJ and pqlleti7e~ ducc, such as fruits and 29 veget~hles. As in the prior art systems, the two rows of ~q~lleti7e~ produce are spaced apart from one Anoll~e~ to define an intc~litial volume between the rows 3l which su~st~ ;Ally forms a low-pressure plenum. There is sufficient space 32 within this lOW-p~S3.11'~, plenum to allow ;~ ;on and access of the produce ; -,,, .,~
' :
WO 94~10849 2 1 ~ 9 () 1 ~1 PCr/US93/10957 , . :. . .
..
by a worker. There is also sufficient spacing between the chamber ceiling and 2 walls and the inserted palletized produce to create an interstitial volume which 3 forms the high-pressure air plenum which is defined by an apron-like 4 pressurization shelf to which the plurality of pressurization fan units are affixed.
S - An important feature in the present invention is the reduction in need for 6 an interior false wall structure alTanged within the chamber, as set forth in the 7 prior art, because of the application of positive pressure about the peripheral of 8 the room and the apron-like shelf to be described. Accordingly, there is no 9 requirement for tarp-like structures or other devices which must be used to seal 10 the interstitial area within the two palletized rows of the prior art to create the 11 low-pressure plenum area.
12 The temperature control within the ripening room utilizes an air-handling 13 unit which may be placed more liberally than those found in the prior art 14 be~ause of the lacl~ of need of the interior false wall. Spe~cifically, air-h~n~lline 15 units which are sit~t~l along the longitudinal axis of the ripening room may be 16 used, allowing for more even te-~-pe~ature distribution. The air-h~ndlin~ unit is 17 ~ ~ utillzed to provlde te,..pe~ture control and, pursuant to the various different 18 ~; embo~iment~ available, because of the improvements in the rli~r,lQsecl room, the 19 air-h~ndlin~ unit may be placed at the end of the room in a singular location or 20 dislllbuled about the room either down the longitudinal axis or in other 2I combinadons, as will be more fully described in the det~i1e~l desc~ t;on to 22 follow.
23 ~ A further improvement in the cli~rlosed invention is the incol~lation of 24 ' floating sealing strips used in conjunction with the shelf unit con~ nin~ the 25 plurallq of ~ess~ ;ng fans. The unique appl.cation of gasket n-~ri~l 26 provides for greater i~ roved unifo~ nlity of air flow through the produce.
27 Se~ling strips are also used in a vertical fashion to provide for sealing between -~' 28 the stacks of p?lleti7ed boxes res~ltin~ in a reduction in air pressure loss ~-29 between the pr~s~. Ie plenums which would otherwise occur due to leakage between the boxes cont~ ing the produce, as opposed to dil~ling the desired t 31 air flow through the boxes ~I.e,.~;lves. With th~ use of slidable sealing doors 32 t~ close off the longi~udin~l end of the high-pressure pl.om~ along with , , ~
W094/10849 2 ~ PCI/US93/1095~- :
baseboard-level curbs, sealing any leakage through the access slots in the 2 standard pallets utilized to stack the product, a substantially sealed plenum is 3 formed which provides for more uniform and more carefully-controlled air flow 4 through the produce boxes.
S The present invention allows a non-uniform number of pallets to be 6 stacked on either side of the longitudinal axis of the ripening room without loss 7 of effectiveness. For example? it would be possible to stack a longer length, 8 and therefore larger number of pallets, on one side of the ripening room 9 disclosed while having only one or two pallets on the opposite side and still provide for an even pressurization of the two outer high-pressure plenums. The 11 enclose disclosure illustrates a slidable sealing door to be used to seal off the l2 high-pressure plenum at any point desired, thereby creating what is essentially a 13 floating end wall for the high-pressure plenum area.
14 ~ The present disclosure also provides for a multi-tiered stack system15 ~ which allows the sarne inventlon to be used with a multiple layer of two or16 ~ more~stackedp~llets. Also, becauseoftheuniquedesigndisclosed, itisnot 17 ' n~;s~ that any air-h~n(11in~ unit be affixed to a false wall pursuant to the 18~ cclosllres found in the prior art. Therefo~, it is possible to use air-h~n~11in~
l9 ~ units that provide cooling or heating coils down the longitudinal axis of the 20 room, p~fe~dbly on the top of the room, providing for a more even 21 te.~ dture distribution throughout the room. It is also possible to combine the 22 coollng ~unit and pressurization fans into a single device in a useful alteration of 23 ~ the pl~fe.!ed e~bodimen~ as will be more fully described in the ~et~i1ed 24 ~es~irt;l~n and the drawings to fdlow.
It is, tll~fol~, a p~m~y objective of the subject invention to provide a 26 novel, integrated pressure coolin~- system for produce employing, inter alia, a 27 multiplicity of ple~s~lization fan units~ low-velocity coQlin~ coils and adjustable 28 hn- ;70n¢~1 and vertical sealing means togethcr providing for u~ifc,~ air flow 1 ' 29 through individual, co~ ent~li7ed pallet stacks.
Another object of the subject invention is independent control over 31 individual pllleti7ed stack locals or stations without interruption to surrounding 3 2 stations.
,~, ~ .
,- ~
.:
2 ~
~0 94/10849 Pcr/US93/10957 ! :
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system that is 2 energy and cost efficient.
3 It is another object of the present invention to provide a system~devoid 4 of unsanitary and cumbersome sealing means.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system which 6 easily accommodates visual and mechanical inspection and monitorir.g of 7 produce.
8 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system with- 9 baseboard level pallet guide means for easy positioning of same.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for a means to 11 allow controlled air flow across a single row of palletized produce boxes.
l2 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means to 13 allow open, unsealed produce box tops by utilizing a floating sealing device by 14 b~l~ncing air flows through the closure of various produce box openings.
~ Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be appal~ent 16 ~ upon~ ~efere~nce to the acco"1panying desc1iption when taken in conjunction with , ~ ~
17 the following drawings.
18 Brief D~ tion of the Draw;n~
19 FIG. 1 is a side view of the single-layer ripening raom;
~IG. 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the 21 pe1il)h~.dl fan pl~cernentc;
-~: " ~ -~
22 ~G. 3 is an end view of the single-tiered ripening room;
~r''"'" ~ 23 FIG. 4 is a plan view of the ripening room showing an embodiment 24 utili7ing linearally-distributed cooling coils;
~G. S is an end view showing a variation of the preferred embo-liment 26 with a two-tiered s~aç~inE system for the pallets;
27 ~IG. 6 is a plan view of a two-tiered ripening room illustrating ' . 28 longitudin~l~ center-mounted coo1ing coils;
29 FIG. 7 is a side view of a two-tiered st~rkin~ system for the pallets 30 illustrating lon~itu~lin~l, center-mounted cooling coils;
31 ~IG. 8 is an end view of the single-tiered ripening room illu~lldti1lg 32 longihl~lin~l, center-mounted cooling coils;
~, ~
,~ ~
~ , " ~
-:
~,~
2 ~ PCltUS93/~0957 FIG. 9 is a side view of a single-tiered ripening room illustrating 2 longitudinal~ center-mounted cooling coils;
3 ~IG. 10 is a view of the high pressure plenum sealing door; ~ ' 4 ~IG. 11 is a view of the high pressure plenum sealing door further ~:
S illustrating its placement between the upper shelf and lower curb of the ripening - 6 room;
7 FIG. 12 is a view illustrating the pivoting, slidable sealing door for the ~: 8 high pressure plenum illustrating the door's slidable track;
~-~ 9 FIG. 13 is a view of the ripening room from outside of the slidable access door illustrating the pluricity of pressurization fans on their mounting 11 shelf, as well as the vertical and horizontal sealing strips;
12 ~lG. 14 is a view of the ripening room from the opposite end of the 13 slidable1 sealing access door further illustrating, and showing a close-up view 14 of, the plurality of fans, along with their mounting shelf and the verdcal and horizontal sealing strips;
16 FIG. 15 is an end view of ripening room from a location opposite the17 access door, il!ustratdng the re~tion~hip of the verticat and horizontal sealing 18 ~ means,:the lower bumper strip, lol-~itudin~lly located cooling coils;
19 ~IG. 16 is a plan view showing that alteradon of the present in-vention whereby the pallet rows are d;.~d in an angled configuration;
21 ~IG. 17 is an end view of the S~p~ning room showing an alteration of: 22 the pl~fe~.~ embodin~ent utili7ing fluid pressure manifolds to introduce the 23 circulating fluid from a central pressuri_ation unit;
24 - ~G. 18 is a plan view of the ri~ning room illustrating an alteration of the l~efe~r~d embo~lim-pnt whereby there is a pluricity of p~llPti7P~ stacks and26 interstitial low volume areas; and 27 ~IG. 19 is an end view of variations of the l,ref~d embo~lirnent 28 demon~trating the improved sealing means for air flow restriction.
29 Detailed D~.;~Jt~on of the Invention And Best Mode For Carryinp Out The ~nvention 31 Refernng now to the various drawings and, spe~ifir~lly, ~IG. 1, 32 illustrated therein is a ri~ning room apparatus according to the rlicrlosed ., .
~, wo 94/10849 2 ;L ~ ~ ~ 1 g PCI/US93/10957 invention, generally indicated by the numeral 2. In a similar fashion, only 2 generally speaking, to the prior art, the room is conventional in its shape and 3 design in that is it formed by a ceiling, floor and four walls. The fron~ wall is 4 a slidable door panel. The walls, front panel and ceiling are incul~ted to form a S generally gas-tight chamber for the treatment of various produce, such as fruits 6 and vegetables. The overall dimensions of the ripening room are suitable to 7 house one, two, or more one or multi-tiered rows of p~lleti7ed produce and 8 may be, by way of example only, approximately a height of 12 feetj a width of 9 12 feet, and a length of 42 feet. There is a suitable entrance way at one end of the room, allowing a forklift or other lifting apparatus to place the pallet stacks 11 8 within room 2. The palletized produce 8 comprises a plurality of protective 12 boxes 32 to unitize and protect the produce. Protective boxes 32 are stacked on 13 pallets 30 for easy handling during the insertion and removal of the produce 14 load to and from the ripening room 2. Each pallet 30 may be 40" x 48", with48 protective boxes 32 stacked thereon. Pursuant to the invention, and in 16 accord with the common design of the protective boxes 32 in the trade, each of 17 the protective boxes 32 include side openings 34 which line up with the similar 18 openings in the adjacent boxes on a particular p~lleti7ed stack 8. As such, the 19 openings 34 facilitate air flow through the boxes 32 in that the commonality of location of opening~ 34 and boxes 32 provide for continuity from the side of 21 pallet stack 8 adjacent to an outer wall to the inner space definçd between two 22 rows of p~lleti7e~ produce, as will be more fully described.
23 It will be appreciated, by reviewing the plan view of ~IG. 2 that the two 24 rows of pallet stacks 8 form an interstitial volume between the two rows of the p~lle~i?ed stack 8. By viewin~ ~G. 3, the shape and definition of the 26 interstitial area creating a low-pressure plenum can be more fully a~ç~ciated.
27 The high-pr~ss~ air space 16 can be seen in FIG. 3 to be formed by -~
28 an area defined by side wall 40 and one edge of pallet stack 8. The lower 29 boundary of the high-presallle air space 16 is defined by curb 28 and the upper t end is dçfine~d by the peripheral fan shelf 12. As can be seen, fans 10 by 31 operating in a direction providing for an increase in pressure from top to bottom ,, 32 which provides air flow into space 16, there would be a pressure gradient from 3~- lo PCI'/US93/10957 the ambient room area, defined as the low-pressure plenum or space 18, and air 2 space 16. The fluid within this high-pressure area 16 would normally seek to 3 equalize its pressure by flowing to a lower pressure area 18 if it is provided 4 unrestricted flow. In the present invention, such press.l~e equalization path is S across the stack 8 through the box side openings 34 located on boxes 32. As 6 can be shown by the illustrative arrows found in the drawings, and continuing 7 to refer, in particular, to ~IG. 3, it will be appreciated that the fluid (air in the 8 preferred embodiment), in space 16 will flow through the boxes as described, 9 finally amving at the low-pressure area 18. Accordingly, the fluid moving as described would eventually communicate with fan 10 at the intake or low 11 pressure end, and be recirculated by continuously moving from the high-12 pressure space 16 to low-press.l~ space 18, thereby allowing a continuous flow 13 of air through the protecti~e boxes 32.
14 In the prior art, high- and low-pressure spaces creating pressure gradienls across the st~ ~l boxes cQnt~inin~ produce have~been developed, but 16 in~a non-uniform fashion. By using a point-source pressurization system, 17 usualiy a~series of fans at the end of one room ~t~cl ed to a false wall, the 18 ~ high- and low-pressure spaces created did not provide for uniform air flow 19~ across the length of the stacks of produce. lt can be appreciated that there20 would be a higher volume of air flow through the produce boxes at the end of a ., ~~ ~. , i .
21 ri~nin~ room which contains the pressurization fans. If one were to assume 22 that~ the produce boxes are llniti7ed and have a generally equal flow reSict~nce ,.-, "~
23 across the~ box through the ope~in~ in the boxes, a greater amount of air 24 volume would flow through the boxes b~tw~n the high-p~ ~ and low-pl~,sa~l~ plen~ums ~çfilnçd!bylbo~xes at the end of the room Icloser to the p-eSa~
26 source.
27 A variation of the AiCClQSe(l invention provides a technique for allowing 28 more uniform flow of air volume through produce boxes by varying the size of 29 the ~.~enum~ formed by the rows of stacked produce. ~e~ nce to air flow in a ~-lelulned closed-circuit air circ~ tiol- system is related to the ~limen~iQrls of the 31 plenum introducing the air to and from the p~s,u~i7;~lg fan system.
.~ ~
32 Accol~lingly, by introduçing a continuously variable width between the stacked .,:
., , ~
. ~
.~:
::
Wo ~4/10849 2 1 ~ g O 1 ~) Pcr/US93ilO957 pallets, as illustrated in ~lG. 16, it will be appreciated that the fluid pressure 2 across the protective boxes may be adjusted so as to equalize the air flow 3 through the palletized boxes located at the opposite end of the point sou~rce fans, 4 as opposed to the air flow closer to the fan location in which a wider plenum S described by angled s acks of pallets provide for a slightly reduced pressure 6 differential across the boxes located therein, ultimately allowing for an equal air 7 flow volume through the p~lleti7ed boxes located at the far end of a ripening 8 room when compared to boxes locate~d close in to the fans providing the 9 pressurizing sources. Also, it is possible to add vent stripes to existing tarp covers and louvers in air handlers to increase the isolation between the high-11 pressure areas and low-pressure areas within the ripening rooms. Air leakage 12 and back flow through both the air-handling fans and tarps used in the existing 13 art can be minimized through the use of the methods disclosed in the present 14 invention. This method of ripening room configuration is beneficial in retrofitting existing rooms.
16 It can be appreciated that the air flow would be in reverse of that shown 17 in ~lG. 16 in ripening rooms of the existing art in that the fan within the air 18 handler shown would be supplying air flow in the opposite direction. The air 19 would be drawn through the palleti7~d stack 8, in a direction whereby the flow would be towards the center of the room from the outer peripheral area through 21 to the return llow in the air-h~n~ling unit 4. It would be ap~,eciated that22 utili~in~ the reverse flow technique found in existing ripening rooms, a tarp or 23 other pressure area sealing means would be required to seal off the interstitial ~, ~
~-; 24 area between the non-parallel pallet stacks 8.
Returning now to ~IG. 3, it would be ap?r~iated that in order to 26 maintain the high-pressure plenum 16, there must be shields sufficient to 27 provide cont~inment of the high-pressure space 16~ By providing seals in every ,~ 28 location other than those adjacent to the pallet stack 8, the high-presa.lr~ within -~ 29 16 would seek to equalize in the low-pressure area 18 by flowing through the ~ . .
p~lleti7ed boxes and the box opening~ 34, as opposed to communicadng directly - 31 with the low-pressure area 18, without being caused to flow through the 32 protec~ e boxes 32. Horizontal gasket air seal 24 provides a means to improve .
, WO 94~10849 PCT/US93/1095' ~ ~.
2~ 12 the air flow through the boxes 32, as well as prevent air flow leakage from the 2 high- to low-pressure areas. ' 3 In the l~refell~d embc~im~n~, seal 24 is a continuous strip of prlable 4 pvc material running the length of room 2, af~lxed at the top to shelf 12. It can S be seen from FIGS. 11 and 12 that seal 24 prevents air flow from traveling 6 over the boxes 32 since the top of the pallet stack 8 does not norrnally reach the 7 height of shelf 12. In such a fashion, the air pressure within space 16 creates a 8 pressure gradi~nt across seal 24. Seal 24 is hekl firrnly against box 32 located 9 at the top of stack 8 imme~i~tely adjacent to seal 24. It is hnpollant to note that seal 24 should extend downward from shelf 12 only to the extent ne~ess~ry 11 to cover the side of the top boxes on stack 8, as shown in ~GS. 11 and 12, so 12 that the side openings 34 within the top box are sealed from air flow. This is 13 to prevent the low resistance air flow path presented by the openings in the top 14 boxes from exh~sti~g a large volume of air, thereby reducing the pressure within space 16 enough to provide an uneven air flow across the lower boxes in 16 stack 8. One would appleciate, while observing stack 8 in FIG. 3 and thel? other figures, that the air flow through side openings 34 co~ ne~ on the top 18 boxes of stack 8 present a low re~ qnce air flow path between the high-l9 pressure area 16 and low-pressure area 18. Experience has shown, and conQid~ation of the fluid dynamics involved would confirm, that the resistance 21 presented by a ~shorter air pàth would consume much of the air flow, in~lic~tinE
22 a much lower volume of air flow across the boxes at the bottom of stack 8 as 23 col.lpar~d to those on top. For this reason, and as has been found desirable, 24 sealing the top rows of boxes alone allows air flow through said top boxes only 25 ~ through the p~t~;~re boxes i~ c~i~tely below the top rack of ~he p~ oti7~d 26 stack 8. The air flow arrows within FIG. 3 illustrate the air flow therein. The 27 sealing means for the top area of top boxes can be of an adjustable type so as to ~.
23 ~ A further improvement in the cli~rlosed invention is the incol~lation of 24 ' floating sealing strips used in conjunction with the shelf unit con~ nin~ the 25 plurallq of ~ess~ ;ng fans. The unique appl.cation of gasket n-~ri~l 26 provides for greater i~ roved unifo~ nlity of air flow through the produce.
27 Se~ling strips are also used in a vertical fashion to provide for sealing between -~' 28 the stacks of p?lleti7ed boxes res~ltin~ in a reduction in air pressure loss ~-29 between the pr~s~. Ie plenums which would otherwise occur due to leakage between the boxes cont~ ing the produce, as opposed to dil~ling the desired t 31 air flow through the boxes ~I.e,.~;lves. With th~ use of slidable sealing doors 32 t~ close off the longi~udin~l end of the high-pressure pl.om~ along with , , ~
W094/10849 2 ~ PCI/US93/1095~- :
baseboard-level curbs, sealing any leakage through the access slots in the 2 standard pallets utilized to stack the product, a substantially sealed plenum is 3 formed which provides for more uniform and more carefully-controlled air flow 4 through the produce boxes.
S The present invention allows a non-uniform number of pallets to be 6 stacked on either side of the longitudinal axis of the ripening room without loss 7 of effectiveness. For example? it would be possible to stack a longer length, 8 and therefore larger number of pallets, on one side of the ripening room 9 disclosed while having only one or two pallets on the opposite side and still provide for an even pressurization of the two outer high-pressure plenums. The 11 enclose disclosure illustrates a slidable sealing door to be used to seal off the l2 high-pressure plenum at any point desired, thereby creating what is essentially a 13 floating end wall for the high-pressure plenum area.
14 ~ The present disclosure also provides for a multi-tiered stack system15 ~ which allows the sarne inventlon to be used with a multiple layer of two or16 ~ more~stackedp~llets. Also, becauseoftheuniquedesigndisclosed, itisnot 17 ' n~;s~ that any air-h~n(11in~ unit be affixed to a false wall pursuant to the 18~ cclosllres found in the prior art. Therefo~, it is possible to use air-h~n~11in~
l9 ~ units that provide cooling or heating coils down the longitudinal axis of the 20 room, p~fe~dbly on the top of the room, providing for a more even 21 te.~ dture distribution throughout the room. It is also possible to combine the 22 coollng ~unit and pressurization fans into a single device in a useful alteration of 23 ~ the pl~fe.!ed e~bodimen~ as will be more fully described in the ~et~i1ed 24 ~es~irt;l~n and the drawings to fdlow.
It is, tll~fol~, a p~m~y objective of the subject invention to provide a 26 novel, integrated pressure coolin~- system for produce employing, inter alia, a 27 multiplicity of ple~s~lization fan units~ low-velocity coQlin~ coils and adjustable 28 hn- ;70n¢~1 and vertical sealing means togethcr providing for u~ifc,~ air flow 1 ' 29 through individual, co~ ent~li7ed pallet stacks.
Another object of the subject invention is independent control over 31 individual pllleti7ed stack locals or stations without interruption to surrounding 3 2 stations.
,~, ~ .
,- ~
.:
2 ~
~0 94/10849 Pcr/US93/10957 ! :
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system that is 2 energy and cost efficient.
3 It is another object of the present invention to provide a system~devoid 4 of unsanitary and cumbersome sealing means.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system which 6 easily accommodates visual and mechanical inspection and monitorir.g of 7 produce.
8 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system with- 9 baseboard level pallet guide means for easy positioning of same.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for a means to 11 allow controlled air flow across a single row of palletized produce boxes.
l2 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means to 13 allow open, unsealed produce box tops by utilizing a floating sealing device by 14 b~l~ncing air flows through the closure of various produce box openings.
~ Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be appal~ent 16 ~ upon~ ~efere~nce to the acco"1panying desc1iption when taken in conjunction with , ~ ~
17 the following drawings.
18 Brief D~ tion of the Draw;n~
19 FIG. 1 is a side view of the single-layer ripening raom;
~IG. 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the 21 pe1il)h~.dl fan pl~cernentc;
-~: " ~ -~
22 ~G. 3 is an end view of the single-tiered ripening room;
~r''"'" ~ 23 FIG. 4 is a plan view of the ripening room showing an embodiment 24 utili7ing linearally-distributed cooling coils;
~G. S is an end view showing a variation of the preferred embo-liment 26 with a two-tiered s~aç~inE system for the pallets;
27 ~IG. 6 is a plan view of a two-tiered ripening room illustrating ' . 28 longitudin~l~ center-mounted coo1ing coils;
29 FIG. 7 is a side view of a two-tiered st~rkin~ system for the pallets 30 illustrating lon~itu~lin~l, center-mounted cooling coils;
31 ~IG. 8 is an end view of the single-tiered ripening room illu~lldti1lg 32 longihl~lin~l, center-mounted cooling coils;
~, ~
,~ ~
~ , " ~
-:
~,~
2 ~ PCltUS93/~0957 FIG. 9 is a side view of a single-tiered ripening room illustrating 2 longitudinal~ center-mounted cooling coils;
3 ~IG. 10 is a view of the high pressure plenum sealing door; ~ ' 4 ~IG. 11 is a view of the high pressure plenum sealing door further ~:
S illustrating its placement between the upper shelf and lower curb of the ripening - 6 room;
7 FIG. 12 is a view illustrating the pivoting, slidable sealing door for the ~: 8 high pressure plenum illustrating the door's slidable track;
~-~ 9 FIG. 13 is a view of the ripening room from outside of the slidable access door illustrating the pluricity of pressurization fans on their mounting 11 shelf, as well as the vertical and horizontal sealing strips;
12 ~lG. 14 is a view of the ripening room from the opposite end of the 13 slidable1 sealing access door further illustrating, and showing a close-up view 14 of, the plurality of fans, along with their mounting shelf and the verdcal and horizontal sealing strips;
16 FIG. 15 is an end view of ripening room from a location opposite the17 access door, il!ustratdng the re~tion~hip of the verticat and horizontal sealing 18 ~ means,:the lower bumper strip, lol-~itudin~lly located cooling coils;
19 ~IG. 16 is a plan view showing that alteradon of the present in-vention whereby the pallet rows are d;.~d in an angled configuration;
21 ~IG. 17 is an end view of the S~p~ning room showing an alteration of: 22 the pl~fe~.~ embodin~ent utili7ing fluid pressure manifolds to introduce the 23 circulating fluid from a central pressuri_ation unit;
24 - ~G. 18 is a plan view of the ri~ning room illustrating an alteration of the l~efe~r~d embo~lim-pnt whereby there is a pluricity of p~llPti7P~ stacks and26 interstitial low volume areas; and 27 ~IG. 19 is an end view of variations of the l,ref~d embo~lirnent 28 demon~trating the improved sealing means for air flow restriction.
29 Detailed D~.;~Jt~on of the Invention And Best Mode For Carryinp Out The ~nvention 31 Refernng now to the various drawings and, spe~ifir~lly, ~IG. 1, 32 illustrated therein is a ri~ning room apparatus according to the rlicrlosed ., .
~, wo 94/10849 2 ;L ~ ~ ~ 1 g PCI/US93/10957 invention, generally indicated by the numeral 2. In a similar fashion, only 2 generally speaking, to the prior art, the room is conventional in its shape and 3 design in that is it formed by a ceiling, floor and four walls. The fron~ wall is 4 a slidable door panel. The walls, front panel and ceiling are incul~ted to form a S generally gas-tight chamber for the treatment of various produce, such as fruits 6 and vegetables. The overall dimensions of the ripening room are suitable to 7 house one, two, or more one or multi-tiered rows of p~lleti7ed produce and 8 may be, by way of example only, approximately a height of 12 feetj a width of 9 12 feet, and a length of 42 feet. There is a suitable entrance way at one end of the room, allowing a forklift or other lifting apparatus to place the pallet stacks 11 8 within room 2. The palletized produce 8 comprises a plurality of protective 12 boxes 32 to unitize and protect the produce. Protective boxes 32 are stacked on 13 pallets 30 for easy handling during the insertion and removal of the produce 14 load to and from the ripening room 2. Each pallet 30 may be 40" x 48", with48 protective boxes 32 stacked thereon. Pursuant to the invention, and in 16 accord with the common design of the protective boxes 32 in the trade, each of 17 the protective boxes 32 include side openings 34 which line up with the similar 18 openings in the adjacent boxes on a particular p~lleti7ed stack 8. As such, the 19 openings 34 facilitate air flow through the boxes 32 in that the commonality of location of opening~ 34 and boxes 32 provide for continuity from the side of 21 pallet stack 8 adjacent to an outer wall to the inner space definçd between two 22 rows of p~lleti7e~ produce, as will be more fully described.
23 It will be appreciated, by reviewing the plan view of ~IG. 2 that the two 24 rows of pallet stacks 8 form an interstitial volume between the two rows of the p~lle~i?ed stack 8. By viewin~ ~G. 3, the shape and definition of the 26 interstitial area creating a low-pressure plenum can be more fully a~ç~ciated.
27 The high-pr~ss~ air space 16 can be seen in FIG. 3 to be formed by -~
28 an area defined by side wall 40 and one edge of pallet stack 8. The lower 29 boundary of the high-presallle air space 16 is defined by curb 28 and the upper t end is dçfine~d by the peripheral fan shelf 12. As can be seen, fans 10 by 31 operating in a direction providing for an increase in pressure from top to bottom ,, 32 which provides air flow into space 16, there would be a pressure gradient from 3~- lo PCI'/US93/10957 the ambient room area, defined as the low-pressure plenum or space 18, and air 2 space 16. The fluid within this high-pressure area 16 would normally seek to 3 equalize its pressure by flowing to a lower pressure area 18 if it is provided 4 unrestricted flow. In the present invention, such press.l~e equalization path is S across the stack 8 through the box side openings 34 located on boxes 32. As 6 can be shown by the illustrative arrows found in the drawings, and continuing 7 to refer, in particular, to ~IG. 3, it will be appreciated that the fluid (air in the 8 preferred embodiment), in space 16 will flow through the boxes as described, 9 finally amving at the low-pressure area 18. Accordingly, the fluid moving as described would eventually communicate with fan 10 at the intake or low 11 pressure end, and be recirculated by continuously moving from the high-12 pressure space 16 to low-press.l~ space 18, thereby allowing a continuous flow 13 of air through the protecti~e boxes 32.
14 In the prior art, high- and low-pressure spaces creating pressure gradienls across the st~ ~l boxes cQnt~inin~ produce have~been developed, but 16 in~a non-uniform fashion. By using a point-source pressurization system, 17 usualiy a~series of fans at the end of one room ~t~cl ed to a false wall, the 18 ~ high- and low-pressure spaces created did not provide for uniform air flow 19~ across the length of the stacks of produce. lt can be appreciated that there20 would be a higher volume of air flow through the produce boxes at the end of a ., ~~ ~. , i .
21 ri~nin~ room which contains the pressurization fans. If one were to assume 22 that~ the produce boxes are llniti7ed and have a generally equal flow reSict~nce ,.-, "~
23 across the~ box through the ope~in~ in the boxes, a greater amount of air 24 volume would flow through the boxes b~tw~n the high-p~ ~ and low-pl~,sa~l~ plen~ums ~çfilnçd!bylbo~xes at the end of the room Icloser to the p-eSa~
26 source.
27 A variation of the AiCClQSe(l invention provides a technique for allowing 28 more uniform flow of air volume through produce boxes by varying the size of 29 the ~.~enum~ formed by the rows of stacked produce. ~e~ nce to air flow in a ~-lelulned closed-circuit air circ~ tiol- system is related to the ~limen~iQrls of the 31 plenum introducing the air to and from the p~s,u~i7;~lg fan system.
.~ ~
32 Accol~lingly, by introduçing a continuously variable width between the stacked .,:
., , ~
. ~
.~:
::
Wo ~4/10849 2 1 ~ g O 1 ~) Pcr/US93ilO957 pallets, as illustrated in ~lG. 16, it will be appreciated that the fluid pressure 2 across the protective boxes may be adjusted so as to equalize the air flow 3 through the palletized boxes located at the opposite end of the point sou~rce fans, 4 as opposed to the air flow closer to the fan location in which a wider plenum S described by angled s acks of pallets provide for a slightly reduced pressure 6 differential across the boxes located therein, ultimately allowing for an equal air 7 flow volume through the p~lleti7ed boxes located at the far end of a ripening 8 room when compared to boxes locate~d close in to the fans providing the 9 pressurizing sources. Also, it is possible to add vent stripes to existing tarp covers and louvers in air handlers to increase the isolation between the high-11 pressure areas and low-pressure areas within the ripening rooms. Air leakage 12 and back flow through both the air-handling fans and tarps used in the existing 13 art can be minimized through the use of the methods disclosed in the present 14 invention. This method of ripening room configuration is beneficial in retrofitting existing rooms.
16 It can be appreciated that the air flow would be in reverse of that shown 17 in ~lG. 16 in ripening rooms of the existing art in that the fan within the air 18 handler shown would be supplying air flow in the opposite direction. The air 19 would be drawn through the palleti7~d stack 8, in a direction whereby the flow would be towards the center of the room from the outer peripheral area through 21 to the return llow in the air-h~n~ling unit 4. It would be ap~,eciated that22 utili~in~ the reverse flow technique found in existing ripening rooms, a tarp or 23 other pressure area sealing means would be required to seal off the interstitial ~, ~
~-; 24 area between the non-parallel pallet stacks 8.
Returning now to ~IG. 3, it would be ap?r~iated that in order to 26 maintain the high-pressure plenum 16, there must be shields sufficient to 27 provide cont~inment of the high-pressure space 16~ By providing seals in every ,~ 28 location other than those adjacent to the pallet stack 8, the high-presa.lr~ within -~ 29 16 would seek to equalize in the low-pressure area 18 by flowing through the ~ . .
p~lleti7ed boxes and the box opening~ 34, as opposed to communicadng directly - 31 with the low-pressure area 18, without being caused to flow through the 32 protec~ e boxes 32. Horizontal gasket air seal 24 provides a means to improve .
, WO 94~10849 PCT/US93/1095' ~ ~.
2~ 12 the air flow through the boxes 32, as well as prevent air flow leakage from the 2 high- to low-pressure areas. ' 3 In the l~refell~d embc~im~n~, seal 24 is a continuous strip of prlable 4 pvc material running the length of room 2, af~lxed at the top to shelf 12. It can S be seen from FIGS. 11 and 12 that seal 24 prevents air flow from traveling 6 over the boxes 32 since the top of the pallet stack 8 does not norrnally reach the 7 height of shelf 12. In such a fashion, the air pressure within space 16 creates a 8 pressure gradi~nt across seal 24. Seal 24 is hekl firrnly against box 32 located 9 at the top of stack 8 imme~i~tely adjacent to seal 24. It is hnpollant to note that seal 24 should extend downward from shelf 12 only to the extent ne~ess~ry 11 to cover the side of the top boxes on stack 8, as shown in ~GS. 11 and 12, so 12 that the side openings 34 within the top box are sealed from air flow. This is 13 to prevent the low resistance air flow path presented by the openings in the top 14 boxes from exh~sti~g a large volume of air, thereby reducing the pressure within space 16 enough to provide an uneven air flow across the lower boxes in 16 stack 8. One would appleciate, while observing stack 8 in FIG. 3 and thel? other figures, that the air flow through side openings 34 co~ ne~ on the top 18 boxes of stack 8 present a low re~ qnce air flow path between the high-l9 pressure area 16 and low-pressure area 18. Experience has shown, and conQid~ation of the fluid dynamics involved would confirm, that the resistance 21 presented by a ~shorter air pàth would consume much of the air flow, in~lic~tinE
22 a much lower volume of air flow across the boxes at the bottom of stack 8 as 23 col.lpar~d to those on top. For this reason, and as has been found desirable, 24 sealing the top rows of boxes alone allows air flow through said top boxes only 25 ~ through the p~t~;~re boxes i~ c~i~tely below the top rack of ~he p~ oti7~d 26 stack 8. The air flow arrows within FIG. 3 illustrate the air flow therein. The 27 sealing means for the top area of top boxes can be of an adjustable type so as to ~.
28 roll or unroll the ho~i~ont~l gasl~et air seal 24 to ~low adjustment as to the 29 number of box openings which are covered by the seal.
Moving now to a feature of the present invention, vertical and 31 removable seal 26 is ~ ->~ t,ed in detail in ~IGS. 10 and 11. This removable 32 strip is used to seal the vertical end of the high pressure air space 16 which is ,~:
, 2 ~ ~ ~ 0 WO 94/10849 Pcr~US93~10~S7 ,:
present in the ~lefelled embodiment of room 2. As can be seen from the 2 figures? the vertical seal 26 fits snugly between shelf 12 and curb 28. Further, 3 the longitudinal ends of seal 26 fit between the outer wall of room 2 an~d the 4 edge of the stack 8. Since a tight air seal requires a snug fit providing for little or no fluid leakage, it will be ~ppl~iated that a gasket-like material must be 6 applied about the peripheral of seal 26. The material used in the preferred7 embodiment is a pliable pvc plastic which is looped over itself in a bumper-like 8 fashion creating a pliable sealing means about the contact edge of seal 26. It 9 will be appreciated from FIGS. 10 and 11 that seal 26 may be force-fitted and friction-held in the area provided such as to cause a pressure seal at the end of 11 air space 16. lt can be seen that the slidable seal 26 fits on the outer edge of 12 horizontal gasket air seal 24, thereby assuring a firm and proper fi~ between 13 protective boxes 32 located in pallet stack 8.
14 In the normal course of operation, the protective boxes 32 do not always fit vertically or sit square or true on the pallet 30. With the methods disclosed, , ~
- ~ 16 the friction-fit seal 26 is pliable enough to cause the gasket edging to fit within 17 any irregularities in the size or loca~ion of boxes 32 in stack 8. It will also be 18 appreciated that the gasket material deforms in an outward direction when , 19' pressure is applied to the handle shown in ~IG. 10 and 11 attached to the face of seal 26. An inward, normally and firmly applied force to seal 26 in its 21 intended resting location will cau~se the gasket material to be bowed in the 22 outward direction, thereby c~-cing a hysteresis effect in the force neces~ry to 23 withdraw the seal 26. Accordingly, seal 26 is fairly effortless to install in 24 positiQn~ but r~ es con~iderable force to withdraw, thereby ~csu ing that the preCc~ri7~tion of area~16 does not,cause a blow-out of seal 26.
26 In a similar fashion, it is also possi~le to present a slidable, adjustable 27 end seal 26 using a sliding track and a frame covered with pvc plastic. Turning 28 now to ~IG. 12, it can be applcc;ated that the frame-like rack shown parallel to 29 stack 8 can be adjusted by l~ln~ g along the longi~ in~l axis of room 2 on the track. At any point desired, the seal 26, which pivots upon a heel affixing it to 31 an upper and lower track located at the curb 28, seal 26 can be rotated to be 32 friction-fit against boxes 32 on stack 8. It can be appreciated that the frame ,,",,~ ' !
WO 94/1 084 ~ 3 0 1 PCI / US 93~1 09 would be wider than required to simply fill the space between the outer wall 2 and the pallet stack 8. In such a fashion, the frame seal 26 would be open in 3 the inward direction, away from the direction of the free end of high pressure 4 space 16. Accordingly, upon the pressurization of space 16, seal 26 attempts to expand, thereby pressing the edge of seal 26 in contact with pallet stack 8 6 causing a firm fit. The frame-like device used for seal 26 shown in FIG. 12 is 7 likewise covered with pvc material affixed in a bow-like fashion along the8 peripheral edge of seal 26 allowing a firm fit where it COIlt~rtS the boxes 32.
9 Also as can be seen in FIG. 12, in this embodiment of seal 26, the frame is likewise located on the outer edge of horizontal seal 24, thereby assuring that l l the fit against the ~op box 32 is equally firm and fluid tight.
12 Turning now to yet another embodiment of the present invention, it will 13 be observed in FIG. 17 that the ripening room 2 may be configured such that 14 air handler 4 can be used to introduce fluid pressurization into high pressure 15~ ~ areà 16 throu~h manifold 20. In such a fashion, one could ap~r~iate that it is 16~ possibIe to pressurize high pressure area 16 without the use of a plurality of 17 ~fans~lO~as~shown in the first described embo~limen~ In the instant enlbodinlent~
8 the manifold~20 may consist of a singular l,.anifold on each side of room 2 19 which~ would pl~ss.llize the endre length of area 16. Also, it is possible to2 0 ~ develop~ manifold 20 in a fashion whîch would allow it to be divided into two or 21 more ducts, thereby~ introducirle pressurized fluid in area 16 at more than one 22~ locadon in each of the high pressure air spaces 16.
23~ ~ ~ : I n- cither configuration, the present advantage is that it is possible to 24 utilize the improve.-~ nt r~ s~ by the present invention by retro-fitting5l exiS~inlg r~ms that m~ay have ajr~?ndlirg units which can be ~pted to 26 provide for the air flow in the ripening pn~ces5 such as dcsclibed earlier. The 27 basic configuration, in general, provides for introduction of pressurized fluid .:
28 within air space 16 regardless of the source of the p~saul;~tion.
29 Plesa~ lion may be by use of pe~i~he~l fans as earlier disclosed or the introduc~iQn of pl~sa.~lized fluid through a preSs~ ;or~ source external of the 31 fan shelf 12 as shown in the earlier figures.
32 - Though not disclosed specific~lly in the figures, one could applec;ate , ., ~, 2~.4~f~ ! ~1 '' .
WO ~4/10849 Pcr/US93/10957 that it is possible to integrate the air-handling units, particularly as configured 2 in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, as well as some of the other figures, such that the air- -3 handling units which provide cooling or heating of the air could be integrated 4 into a unit which would also provide the fluid pressurization used to drive the present system. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art thal the integration 6 of a cooling unit with the fan may be placed along each side of ripening room 2 7 at a location equivalent to the peripheral fan shelf 12, thereby providing,: ~ 8 simultaneously and in an integrated unit, the fluid pressurization required to 9 provide high pressure in space 12, as well as the air temperature control normally handled by a separate air handler unit as disclosed in the figures.
l l Other variations and specific adaptations of the ripening room 2 is 12 disclosed in Addendum l and entitled "Auto-Ripe" and is attached hereto and 13 incorporated in this specification by reference.
14~ Yet another advantage of the disclosed ripening room can be observed and appr~ciated by the plan view shown in FIG. 18. With the use of the hi&h pressure air~space 16, it can be applociated that the ripening room can be , ~
17 configur~ed such that there are multiple high pressure air spaces and that they 18 ~ may consist or be configured in the middle of a multi-isled ripening room 19 allowing for at least three, and ultim~tely an indefinite number, of pallet stacks 8 to be located in a particular room. A large, warehouse-like rirenin~ room 21 may conceivably be comprised of many rows of stacks 8 situ~ted between areas 22 16 formed in multiple parallel rows. Even as ~icelose~ in ~IG. 18~ it would be 23 a~ ~iated that additional stacks 8 may be located to the far left side of room 2 24 and the far right side, thereby providing for six (6) rows of pallet stacks 8 without increasing the number o,f f!ans lO and shelves 12 to define high pressure 26 air space 16.
27 Yet another improv~.nent for the sealing means utili7ed in the present ~ ' 28 invention are shown in FIG. 19. It will be appreciated that the hori70n~1 29 gasket air seal 24 shown in the earlier figures can be modified to allow for an ., ~.~ , adjustable seal which cont~inC a rolling me~h~licrn to be drawn down across the , . ~
31 appr~p~iate edge of l)rot~li-/e box 32 such as to function as an effective air seal 32 with an adjustable length. The construction of rolling seal 50 is much like that ,,.~
~ , .,- :
,~
,, .
WO 94/10849 ~ a .!_ ~ PCI/US93/10957 - -of a vertical rolling blind commonly found in window treatments. Rolling seal 2 end weight 54 allows the seal 50 to remain in position even though it is not 3 fixed to protective box 32. As in the earlier-described invention, the alr flow through the boxes creates pr~s~llre against the seal 50 holding it firmly in position. It is also possible to use seal 50 in conventional ripening room design 6 since weight 54 can be sufficiçnt enough to maintain the position of rolling seal 7 50, even though the air flow is reversed as traveling from the center of the 8 room toward the outer peripheral walls.
9 In like fashion, the existing designs of ripening rooms may be improved utilizing top seal flap 52. It would be appreciated from ~IG. 19 that seal 52 l l may be affixed to shelf 12 or any other convenient location such as to allow a 12 seal to be created which takes the place of exiting tarp designs in the existing 13 art. Through use of a flap 52, which can be constructed of pliable foam or14 some other air-tight material, it is possible to seal the top of the boxes without the use of a tarp, thereby elimin~ting the problems involved in the prior art 16 which requires a tarp to be drawn across the tops of protective boxes in order to 17 create an enelos~d interstitial volume.
18 Although the present invention has been describe~ in considerable detail 19 with ~reference to certain ~lefe~l~d versions thereof, other versions are possible.
2b The~~fol~, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to 21 th~ des.;~iption of the preferred versions contained herein, but rather any 22 variations which would be obvious or otherwise app~ent to one skilled in the 23 art reviewing the ~ closure set forth herein are intended to be within the24 purview of the invention r~imed~
,, ~
,~
'' ~; ' :
Moving now to a feature of the present invention, vertical and 31 removable seal 26 is ~ ->~ t,ed in detail in ~IGS. 10 and 11. This removable 32 strip is used to seal the vertical end of the high pressure air space 16 which is ,~:
, 2 ~ ~ ~ 0 WO 94/10849 Pcr~US93~10~S7 ,:
present in the ~lefelled embodiment of room 2. As can be seen from the 2 figures? the vertical seal 26 fits snugly between shelf 12 and curb 28. Further, 3 the longitudinal ends of seal 26 fit between the outer wall of room 2 an~d the 4 edge of the stack 8. Since a tight air seal requires a snug fit providing for little or no fluid leakage, it will be ~ppl~iated that a gasket-like material must be 6 applied about the peripheral of seal 26. The material used in the preferred7 embodiment is a pliable pvc plastic which is looped over itself in a bumper-like 8 fashion creating a pliable sealing means about the contact edge of seal 26. It 9 will be appreciated from FIGS. 10 and 11 that seal 26 may be force-fitted and friction-held in the area provided such as to cause a pressure seal at the end of 11 air space 16. lt can be seen that the slidable seal 26 fits on the outer edge of 12 horizontal gasket air seal 24, thereby assuring a firm and proper fi~ between 13 protective boxes 32 located in pallet stack 8.
14 In the normal course of operation, the protective boxes 32 do not always fit vertically or sit square or true on the pallet 30. With the methods disclosed, , ~
- ~ 16 the friction-fit seal 26 is pliable enough to cause the gasket edging to fit within 17 any irregularities in the size or loca~ion of boxes 32 in stack 8. It will also be 18 appreciated that the gasket material deforms in an outward direction when , 19' pressure is applied to the handle shown in ~IG. 10 and 11 attached to the face of seal 26. An inward, normally and firmly applied force to seal 26 in its 21 intended resting location will cau~se the gasket material to be bowed in the 22 outward direction, thereby c~-cing a hysteresis effect in the force neces~ry to 23 withdraw the seal 26. Accordingly, seal 26 is fairly effortless to install in 24 positiQn~ but r~ es con~iderable force to withdraw, thereby ~csu ing that the preCc~ri7~tion of area~16 does not,cause a blow-out of seal 26.
26 In a similar fashion, it is also possi~le to present a slidable, adjustable 27 end seal 26 using a sliding track and a frame covered with pvc plastic. Turning 28 now to ~IG. 12, it can be applcc;ated that the frame-like rack shown parallel to 29 stack 8 can be adjusted by l~ln~ g along the longi~ in~l axis of room 2 on the track. At any point desired, the seal 26, which pivots upon a heel affixing it to 31 an upper and lower track located at the curb 28, seal 26 can be rotated to be 32 friction-fit against boxes 32 on stack 8. It can be appreciated that the frame ,,",,~ ' !
WO 94/1 084 ~ 3 0 1 PCI / US 93~1 09 would be wider than required to simply fill the space between the outer wall 2 and the pallet stack 8. In such a fashion, the frame seal 26 would be open in 3 the inward direction, away from the direction of the free end of high pressure 4 space 16. Accordingly, upon the pressurization of space 16, seal 26 attempts to expand, thereby pressing the edge of seal 26 in contact with pallet stack 8 6 causing a firm fit. The frame-like device used for seal 26 shown in FIG. 12 is 7 likewise covered with pvc material affixed in a bow-like fashion along the8 peripheral edge of seal 26 allowing a firm fit where it COIlt~rtS the boxes 32.
9 Also as can be seen in FIG. 12, in this embodiment of seal 26, the frame is likewise located on the outer edge of horizontal seal 24, thereby assuring that l l the fit against the ~op box 32 is equally firm and fluid tight.
12 Turning now to yet another embodiment of the present invention, it will 13 be observed in FIG. 17 that the ripening room 2 may be configured such that 14 air handler 4 can be used to introduce fluid pressurization into high pressure 15~ ~ areà 16 throu~h manifold 20. In such a fashion, one could ap~r~iate that it is 16~ possibIe to pressurize high pressure area 16 without the use of a plurality of 17 ~fans~lO~as~shown in the first described embo~limen~ In the instant enlbodinlent~
8 the manifold~20 may consist of a singular l,.anifold on each side of room 2 19 which~ would pl~ss.llize the endre length of area 16. Also, it is possible to2 0 ~ develop~ manifold 20 in a fashion whîch would allow it to be divided into two or 21 more ducts, thereby~ introducirle pressurized fluid in area 16 at more than one 22~ locadon in each of the high pressure air spaces 16.
23~ ~ ~ : I n- cither configuration, the present advantage is that it is possible to 24 utilize the improve.-~ nt r~ s~ by the present invention by retro-fitting5l exiS~inlg r~ms that m~ay have ajr~?ndlirg units which can be ~pted to 26 provide for the air flow in the ripening pn~ces5 such as dcsclibed earlier. The 27 basic configuration, in general, provides for introduction of pressurized fluid .:
28 within air space 16 regardless of the source of the p~saul;~tion.
29 Plesa~ lion may be by use of pe~i~he~l fans as earlier disclosed or the introduc~iQn of pl~sa.~lized fluid through a preSs~ ;or~ source external of the 31 fan shelf 12 as shown in the earlier figures.
32 - Though not disclosed specific~lly in the figures, one could applec;ate , ., ~, 2~.4~f~ ! ~1 '' .
WO ~4/10849 Pcr/US93/10957 that it is possible to integrate the air-handling units, particularly as configured 2 in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, as well as some of the other figures, such that the air- -3 handling units which provide cooling or heating of the air could be integrated 4 into a unit which would also provide the fluid pressurization used to drive the present system. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art thal the integration 6 of a cooling unit with the fan may be placed along each side of ripening room 2 7 at a location equivalent to the peripheral fan shelf 12, thereby providing,: ~ 8 simultaneously and in an integrated unit, the fluid pressurization required to 9 provide high pressure in space 12, as well as the air temperature control normally handled by a separate air handler unit as disclosed in the figures.
l l Other variations and specific adaptations of the ripening room 2 is 12 disclosed in Addendum l and entitled "Auto-Ripe" and is attached hereto and 13 incorporated in this specification by reference.
14~ Yet another advantage of the disclosed ripening room can be observed and appr~ciated by the plan view shown in FIG. 18. With the use of the hi&h pressure air~space 16, it can be applociated that the ripening room can be , ~
17 configur~ed such that there are multiple high pressure air spaces and that they 18 ~ may consist or be configured in the middle of a multi-isled ripening room 19 allowing for at least three, and ultim~tely an indefinite number, of pallet stacks 8 to be located in a particular room. A large, warehouse-like rirenin~ room 21 may conceivably be comprised of many rows of stacks 8 situ~ted between areas 22 16 formed in multiple parallel rows. Even as ~icelose~ in ~IG. 18~ it would be 23 a~ ~iated that additional stacks 8 may be located to the far left side of room 2 24 and the far right side, thereby providing for six (6) rows of pallet stacks 8 without increasing the number o,f f!ans lO and shelves 12 to define high pressure 26 air space 16.
27 Yet another improv~.nent for the sealing means utili7ed in the present ~ ' 28 invention are shown in FIG. 19. It will be appreciated that the hori70n~1 29 gasket air seal 24 shown in the earlier figures can be modified to allow for an ., ~.~ , adjustable seal which cont~inC a rolling me~h~licrn to be drawn down across the , . ~
31 appr~p~iate edge of l)rot~li-/e box 32 such as to function as an effective air seal 32 with an adjustable length. The construction of rolling seal 50 is much like that ,,.~
~ , .,- :
,~
,, .
WO 94/10849 ~ a .!_ ~ PCI/US93/10957 - -of a vertical rolling blind commonly found in window treatments. Rolling seal 2 end weight 54 allows the seal 50 to remain in position even though it is not 3 fixed to protective box 32. As in the earlier-described invention, the alr flow through the boxes creates pr~s~llre against the seal 50 holding it firmly in position. It is also possible to use seal 50 in conventional ripening room design 6 since weight 54 can be sufficiçnt enough to maintain the position of rolling seal 7 50, even though the air flow is reversed as traveling from the center of the 8 room toward the outer peripheral walls.
9 In like fashion, the existing designs of ripening rooms may be improved utilizing top seal flap 52. It would be appreciated from ~IG. 19 that seal 52 l l may be affixed to shelf 12 or any other convenient location such as to allow a 12 seal to be created which takes the place of exiting tarp designs in the existing 13 art. Through use of a flap 52, which can be constructed of pliable foam or14 some other air-tight material, it is possible to seal the top of the boxes without the use of a tarp, thereby elimin~ting the problems involved in the prior art 16 which requires a tarp to be drawn across the tops of protective boxes in order to 17 create an enelos~d interstitial volume.
18 Although the present invention has been describe~ in considerable detail 19 with ~reference to certain ~lefe~l~d versions thereof, other versions are possible.
2b The~~fol~, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to 21 th~ des.;~iption of the preferred versions contained herein, but rather any 22 variations which would be obvious or otherwise app~ent to one skilled in the 23 art reviewing the ~ closure set forth herein are intended to be within the24 purview of the invention r~imed~
,, ~
,~
'' ~; ' :
Claims
1. An apparatus for controlled, pressurized ripening of fresh produce, which comprises:
a. a chamber having a ceiling and front, rear and side walls;
b. a structure arranged within said chamber to position and support at least one row of palletized produce, each row including palletized produce being spaced apart by a frame structure to define and interstitial volume there between, and said row being further spaced by said frame structure from the walls and ceilings of said chamber to define a fluid circulation space about said palletized produce;
c. sealing means to seal said interstitial volume from said fluid circulation space;
d. said frame structure including sealing members to seal said vertical space between the palletized produce from the fluid circulation there through; and e. fluid control means to introduce pressurized fluid into said interstitial volume and to introduce a controlled fluid flow into said fluid circulation space;
whereby to create a pressure differential between said interstitial space and said fluid circulation space such that said introduced controlled fluid is forced to flow uniformly through said palletized produce.
a. a chamber having a ceiling and front, rear and side walls;
b. a structure arranged within said chamber to position and support at least one row of palletized produce, each row including palletized produce being spaced apart by a frame structure to define and interstitial volume there between, and said row being further spaced by said frame structure from the walls and ceilings of said chamber to define a fluid circulation space about said palletized produce;
c. sealing means to seal said interstitial volume from said fluid circulation space;
d. said frame structure including sealing members to seal said vertical space between the palletized produce from the fluid circulation there through; and e. fluid control means to introduce pressurized fluid into said interstitial volume and to introduce a controlled fluid flow into said fluid circulation space;
whereby to create a pressure differential between said interstitial space and said fluid circulation space such that said introduced controlled fluid is forced to flow uniformly through said palletized produce.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US97644392A | 1992-11-13 | 1992-11-13 | |
| US07/976,443 | 1992-11-13 | ||
| PCT/US1993/010957 WO1994010849A1 (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-11-12 | Apparatus for forced air cooling of produce |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2149019A1 CA2149019A1 (en) | 1994-05-26 |
| CA2149019C true CA2149019C (en) | 1998-12-29 |
Family
ID=25524108
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002149019A Expired - Lifetime CA2149019C (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-11-12 | Apparatus for forced air cooling of produce |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2149019C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994010849A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ250904A (en) | 1994-02-17 | 1997-06-24 | Transphere Systems Ltd | Controlled atmosphere storage: produce stored on pallets in refrigerated container, each pallet having its own controlled atmosphere. |
| WO2014147076A1 (en) * | 2013-03-19 | 2014-09-25 | Maersk Container Industry A/S | Method and apparatus for reducing ice forming in a reefer container |
| GB201509661D0 (en) | 2015-06-03 | 2015-07-15 | Ocado Innovation Ltd | Temperature controlled storage system |
| GB2602272B (en) * | 2020-12-18 | 2023-07-12 | Cross Refrigeration N I Ltd | Container and method for storing produce |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2095455A (en) * | 1934-04-30 | 1937-10-12 | Simolene Company | Means for conditioning fruits and vegetables |
| US4132216A (en) * | 1977-03-11 | 1979-01-02 | Raul Guibert | Two-zone hot air oven for food-loaded cartridges |
| SE436491B (en) * | 1982-06-22 | 1984-12-17 | Frigoscandia Contracting Ab | DEVICE FOR AIR TREATMENT OF PRODUCTS |
| US4579051A (en) * | 1983-04-13 | 1986-04-01 | Wolfgang Berrens | Appliance for bread and similar foodstuffs |
| US4631029A (en) * | 1983-12-09 | 1986-12-23 | Lanham Machinery Company, Inc. | Baking oven with heated air distribution-II |
| JPS6236144A (en) * | 1985-08-09 | 1987-02-17 | Takenaka Komuten Co Ltd | Apparatus for steaming and sterilization of green vegetable |
| US4779524A (en) * | 1986-07-17 | 1988-10-25 | Nabisco Brands, Inc. | Apparatus for controlling the ripening of fresh produce |
| US4757800A (en) * | 1987-01-14 | 1988-07-19 | Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc. | Air flow system for a low profile impingement oven |
| US4824685A (en) * | 1987-08-17 | 1989-04-25 | Del Monte Fresh Fruit Company | Method and apparatus for controlling the ripening of fresh produce |
| JPH01107717A (en) * | 1987-10-19 | 1989-04-25 | Horiken Kogyo Kk | Steaming rice cooker |
-
1993
- 1993-11-12 CA CA002149019A patent/CA2149019C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-11-12 WO PCT/US1993/010957 patent/WO1994010849A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2149019A1 (en) | 1994-05-26 |
| WO1994010849A1 (en) | 1994-05-26 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| USRE50003E1 (en) | Heat transfer system for warehoused goods | |
| CA1311390C (en) | Method and apparatus for controlling the ripening of fresh produce | |
| US20110107784A1 (en) | Apparatus for blast freezing palletized product | |
| US20060272350A1 (en) | Cooling room | |
| US5566608A (en) | Vertical flow ripening room | |
| US7946124B2 (en) | Temperature controlled storage facilities and methods | |
| US8281612B2 (en) | Cooling room | |
| CN105555152B (en) | Agricultural product curing chamber | |
| CA2149019C (en) | Apparatus for forced air cooling of produce | |
| US6405644B1 (en) | Environmentally controlled storage and ripening apparatus | |
| US7017366B2 (en) | Retail banana storage unit | |
| US5599079A (en) | Product display stand, and method of storing and displaying products using the same | |
| US20230136063A1 (en) | Phenotypic horticulture systems and methods | |
| US5228313A (en) | Low-temperature storage case | |
| EP1743126B1 (en) | Apparatus for actuating and regulating forced circulation of air in cold-storage rooms | |
| US5046328A (en) | Refrigeration apparatus with article preserving and displaying chamber | |
| US5377502A (en) | Ripening controlling chamber apparatus | |
| US2305319A (en) | Conditioned storage chamber | |
| US7913513B1 (en) | Retail banana storage unit | |
| CN215015624U (en) | Windless refrigeration display cabinet | |
| JP6777410B2 (en) | Food aging equipment | |
| US11988434B2 (en) | Heat transfer system for warehoused goods | |
| US20060254434A1 (en) | System and method for storing food products under controlled atmospheric conditions | |
| JPH0415024Y2 (en) | ||
| KR102042922B1 (en) | Light convergence storage and driving method thereof |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20131112 |