Produce Ripening System

• US 20050165499A1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Russell L. Stein
• Original Assignee: Russell L. Stein
• Inventors: Stein, Russell L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/152 in a controlled atmosphere comprising other gases in addition to CO2, N2, O2 or H2O ; Elimination of such other gases
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/28 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: A23N 15/06 Devices for other treatment of fruit, e.g. marking, maturing, polishing
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/101 Air
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/116 Ethylene

Abstract

A fruit ripening system wherein a continuous inflow of fresh air and ethylene gas is provided into a fruit ripening chamber in correct proportions to form a fruit ripening gas mixture that will predictably ripen fruit in a very short period of time, regardless of the previous state of ripening of the fruit. At the same time, the ripening chamber is continuously purged of carbon dioxide that is a byproduct of the ripening process so that during the ripening process a concentration of carbon dioxide sufficient to materially impede the ripening process is never allowed to build up. Critical parameters are defined for ripening temperature, the minimum ethylene gas concentration, time of exposure to the ethylene gas, and purging of carbon dioxide.

Claims

1. An apparatus for ripening an identified food comprising:

(i) a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a movable partition disposed within the chamber, a chamber wall, and a lid disposed about the chamber, wherein the lid, the movable partition, and the chamber wall define a volume of a food ripening space, wherein an end user may access the food ripening space when the lid is in an open position to insert and remove a food identified with an identifier, wherein the identifier of the identified food is selected from the group consisting of UPC bar codes, SKU numbers, and PLU numbers, and wherein the lid maintains a surface between the food ripening space and the atmosphere outside the food ripening space when the lid is in a closed position;

(ii) an ethylene ripening system, wherein the ethylene ripening system comprises means for storing ethylene gas and an ethylene gas emitter connected to the means for storing ethylene gas, wherein the ethylene gas emitter is disposed within the food ripening space and is adapted to emit and emits the ethylene gas into the food ripening space;

(iii) a means for providing light to the food ripening space;

(iv) a means for maintaining the temperature at one or more desired levels within the food ripening space;

(v) a user interface adapted to receive input and receives input indicative of the identifier of the food identified with the identifier, wherein the user interface is adapted to generate and which generates a first signal indicative of the identifier of the identified food;

(vi) a computer adapted to receive and receives the first signal or a signal representative of the first signal, and wherein the computer comprises;

(a) a database comprising data, wherein the data comprises ripening directions of the identified food corresponding to the identifier of the identified food, wherein the ripening directions comprise ethylene gas concentration and exposure information, ripening temperature information, and light exposure information, and

(b) means for referencing the first signal with the database to provide the data comprising ripening directions of the identified food corresponding to the identifier of the identified food,

wherein the computer provides a second signal indicative of the data comprising ripening directions of the identified food corresponding to the identifier of the identified food;

(vii) a control system adapted to receive and receives the second signal or signal representative of the second signal, wherein the control system is adapted to control and controls;

(a) the ethylene ripening system, wherein the control system controls the amount of ethylene gas added to the food ripening space and the concentration of ethylene gas contained within the food ripening space, and

(b) the means for providing light to the food ripening space, wherein the controller controls the amount and intensity of light introduced to the food ripening space, and

(c) the means for maintaining the temperature at a desired level within the food ripening space, wherein the control system controls the temperature within the food ripening space at one or more set points,

wherein the control of (a), (b), and (c) are carried out in accordance with the ripening directions of the second signal, and wherein the control system is adapted to generate and generates a third signal indicative of the concentration of ethylene gas within the food ripening space, the temperature within the food ripening space, and the amount and intensity of light introduced to the food ripening space; and

(viii) a display means adapted to receive and receives the second signal or a signal representative of the second signal, and the third signal or signal representative of the third signal,

wherein the display means is adapted to display and displays the data contained within the second signal or signal representative of the second signal comprising ripening directions of the identified food corresponding to the identifier of the identified food, and wherein the display means is capable of displaying the data contained within the third signal or signal representative of the third signal indicative of the concentration of ethylene gas within the food ripening space, the temperature within the chamber, and the amount and intensity of light introduced to the food ripening space,

wherein the apparatus for ripening the identified food has a predetermined size, wherein the predetermined size is selected such that the apparatus may be used in the home of the end user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for providing light to the food ripening space is accomplished by the use of a light bulb disposed within the food ripening space.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light bulb is an ultraviolet light bulb.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for maintaining the temperature within the food ripening space at a desired temperature is accomplished by the use of a temperature sensor and a heating element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a computer keyboard wherein the end user inputs the identifier of the food desired to be ripened.

6. An apparatus for ripening food comprising:

(i) a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a movable partition disposed within the chamber, a chamber wall, and a lid disposed about the chamber, wherein the lid, the movable partition, and the chamber wall define a volume of a food ripening space wherein an end user may access so as to define the volume of the food ripening space, wherein an end user may access the food ripening space when the lid is in an open position to insert and remove a food, and wherein the lid maintains a surface between the food ripening space and the atmosphere outside the food ripening space when the lid is in a closed position;

(ii) an ethylene ripening system, wherein the ethylene ripening system comprises means for storing ethylene gas and an ethylene gas emitter connected to the means for storing ethylene gas, wherein the ethylene gas emitter is disposed within the food ripening space and is adapted to emit and which emits the ethylene gas into the food ripening space;

(iii) a means for providing light to the food ripening space;

(iv) a means for maintaining the temperature at a desired level within the food ripening space;

(v) a user interface adapted to receive input from an end user and which receives input from an end user indicative of the ripening directions of the food, wherein the ripening directions comprise ethylene gas concentration and exposure information, ripening temperature information, and light exposure information, and wherein the user interface is adapted to generate and which generates a first signal indicative of the ripening directions of food;

(vi) a control system adapted to receive and which receives the first signal or signal representative of the first signal, wherein the control system is capable of controlling and which controls;

(a) the ethylene ripening system, wherein the control system controls the amount of ethylene gas added to the food ripening space and the concentration of ethylene gas contained within the food ripening space,

(b) the means for maintaining the temperature at a desired level within the food ripening space, wherein the control system controls the temperature at one or more set points throughout the ripening process, and

(c) the means for providing light to the food ripening space, wherein the control system controls the amount and intensity of light introduced to the food ripening space,

wherein the control of (a), (b), and (c) are carried out in accordance with the ripening directions of the first signal; and

(vii) a display means capable of receiving the first signal or a signal representative of the first signal, wherein the display means is capable of displaying the data comprising ripening directions of the food in the form of written communication or electronic communication,

wherein the apparatus for ripening the food has a predetermined size, wherein the predetermined size is selected such that the apparatus may be used in the home of the end user.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user interface comprises a series of knobs wherein the user may manually set values for the desired ripening directions.

8. A method for use with an apparatus for ripening an identified food comprising:

(i) a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a movable partition disposed within the chamber, a chamber wall, and a lid disposed about the chamber, wherein the lid, the movable partition, and the chamber wall define a volume of a food ripening space, wherein an end user may access the food ripening space when the lid is in an open position to insert and remove a food identified with an identifier, wherein the identifier of the identified food is selected from the group consisting of UPC bar codes, SKU numbers, and PLU numbers, and wherein the lid maintains a surface between the food ripening space and the atmosphere outside the food ripening space when the lid is in a closed position;

(ii) an ethylene ripening system, wherein the ethylene ripening system comprises means for storing ethylene gas and an ethylene gas emitter connected to the means for storing ethylene gas, wherein the ethylene gas emitter is disposed within the food ripening space and is adapted to emit and emits the ethylene gas into the food ripening space;

(iii) a means for providing light to the food ripening space;

(iv) a means for maintaining the temperature at one or more desired levels within the food ripening space;

(v) a user interface adapted to receive input and receives input indicative of the identifier of the food identified with the identifier, wherein the user interface is adapted to generate and which generates a first signal indicative of the identifier of the identified food;

(vi) a computer adapted to receive and receives the first signal or a signal representative of the first signal, and wherein the computer comprises;

(a) a database comprising data, wherein the data comprises ripening directions of the identified food corresponding to the identifier of the identified food, wherein the ripening directions comprise ethylene gas concentration and exposure information, ripening temperature information, and light exposure information, and

(b) means for referencing the first signal with the database to provide the data comprising ripening directions of the identified food corresponding to the identifier of the identified food,

wherein the computer provides a second signal indicative of the data comprising ripening directions of the identified food corresponding to the identifier of the identified food;

(vii) a control system adapted to receive and receives the second signal or signal representative of the second signal, wherein the control system is adapted to control and controls;

(a) the ethylene ripening system, wherein the control system controls the amount of ethylene gas added to the food ripening space and the concentration of ethylene gas contained within the food ripening space, and

(b) the means for providing light to the food ripening space, wherein the controller controls the amount and intensity of light introduced to the food ripening space, and

(c) the means for maintaining the temperature at a desired level within the food ripening space, wherein the control system controls the temperature within the food ripening space at one or more set points,

wherein the control of (a), (b), and (c) are carried out in accordance with the ripening directions of the second signal, and wherein the control system is adapted to generate and generates a third signal indicative of the concentration of ethylene gas within the food ripening space, the temperature within the food ripening space, and the amount and intensity of light introduced to the food ripening space; and

(viii) a display means adapted to receive and receives the second signal or a signal representative of the second signal, and the third signal or signal representative of the third signal,

wherein the display means is adapted to display and displays the data contained within the second signal or signal representative of the second signal comprising ripening directions of the identified food corresponding to the identifier of the identified food, and wherein the display means is capable of displaying the data contained within the third signal or signal representative of the third signal indicative of the concentration of ethylene gas within the food ripening space, the temperature within the chamber, and the amount and intensity of light introduced to the food ripening space,

wherein the apparatus for ripening the identified food has a predetermined size, wherein the predetermined size is selected such that the apparatus may be used in the home of the end user

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

(i) providing the apparatus for ripening the identified food,

(ii) opening the lid,

(iii) adjusting the partition to a desire location so as to define the volume food ripening space,

(iv) placing the food identified with the identifier into the food ripening space,

(v) closing the lid,

(vi) inputting data indicative of the identifier of the food identified with the identifier into the user interface, and

(vii) waiting a period of time after steps (i) through (vi) have been completed and then opening the lid and removing the food from the food ripening space.

9. A method for use with an apparatus for ripening an identified food comprising:

(i) a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a movable partition disposed within the chamber, a chamber wall, and a lid disposed about the chamber, wherein the lid, the movable partition, and the chamber wall define a volume of a food ripening space wherein an end user may access so as to define the volume of the food ripening space, wherein an end user may access the food ripening space when the lid is in an open position to insert and remove a food, and wherein the lid maintains a surface between the food ripening space and the atmosphere outside the food ripening space when the lid is in a closed position;

(ii) an ethylene ripening system, wherein the ethylene ripening system comprises means for storing ethylene gas and an ethylene gas emitter connected to the means for storing ethylene gas, wherein the ethylene gas emitter is disposed within the food ripening space and is adapted to emit and which emits the ethylene gas into the food ripening space;

(iii) a means for providing light to the food ripening space;

(iv) a means for maintaining the temperature at a desired level within the food ripening space;

(v) a user interface adapted to receive input from an end user and which receives input from an end user indicative of the ripening directions of the food, wherein the ripening directions comprise ethylene gas concentration and exposure information, ripening temperature information, and light exposure information, and wherein the user interface is adapted to generate and which generates a first signal indicative of the ripening directions of food;

(vi) a control system adapted to receive and which receives the first signal or signal representative of the first signal, wherein the control system is capable of controlling and which controls;

(a) the ethylene ripening system, wherein the control system controls the amount of ethylene gas added to the food ripening space and the concentration of ethylene gas contained within the food ripening space,

(b) the means for maintaining the temperature at a desired level within the food ripening space, wherein the control system controls the temperature at one or more set points throughout the ripening process, and

(c) the means for providing light to the food ripening space, wherein the control system controls the amount and intensity of light introduced to the food ripening space,

wherein the control of (a), (b), and (c) are carried out in accordance with the ripening directions of the first signal; and

(vii) a display means capable of receiving the first signal or a signal representative of the first signal, wherein the display means is capable of displaying the data comprising ripening directions of the food in the form of written communication or electronic communication,

wherein the apparatus for ripening the food has a predetermined size, wherein the predetermined size is selected such that the apparatus may be used in the home of the end user,

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

(i) providing the apparatus for ripening the food,

(ii) opening the lid,

(iii) adjusting the partition to a desire location so as to define the volume food ripening space,

(iv) placing the food into the food ripening space,

(v) closing the lid,

(vi) inputting data indicative of the ripening directions of the food into the user interface, and

(vii) waiting a period of time after steps (i) through (vi) have been completed and then opening the lid and removing the food from the food ripening space.