Produce Ripening System and Method

• US 20180077944A1
• Filed: 04/06/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christophe Obolo
• Original Assignee: Christophe Obolo
• Inventors: Obolo, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 10,440,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/00 Preservation or chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 19/00 Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof marmalades, jams, jellies or the like A23L21/10; treating harvested fruit or vegetables in bulk A23N
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/00 Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs preserving foods or foodstuffs in association with packaging B65B55/00
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/001 Details of apparatus, e.g. for transport, for loading or unloading manipulation, pressure feed valves
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs

Abstract

A system and apparatus for ripening produce is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a chamber having a plurality of walls integrally coupled to a floor, and a lid configured to be coupled with the chamber at an upper end thereof. A top surface of the floor comprises a plurality of first flanges extending therefrom. Each first flange is positioned adjacent to each other and a first set of grooves is formed between adjacent first flanges. The top surface of the floor also comprises a plurality of second flanges extending therefrom. Each second flange is positioned adjacent to each other and a second set of grooves formed between adjacent second flanges. The first set of grooves intersect the second set of grooves and each intersecting groove forms a grid. At least one of the plurality of walls and the lid include an aperture extending therethrough.

Claims

1. An apparatus for ripening produce, the apparatus comprising:

a chamber having a plurality of walls integrally coupled to a floor; and

a lid configured to be coupled with the chamber at an upper end thereof;

wherein a top surface of the floor comprises;

a plurality of first flanges extending therefrom, each first flange positioned adjacent to each other, a first set of grooves formed between adjacent first flanges; and

a plurality of second flanges extending therefrom, each second flange positioned adjacent to each other, a second set of grooves formed between adjacent second flanges, the first set of grooves intersecting the second set of grooves, each intersecting groove forming a grid; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of walls and the lid include at least one aperture extending therethrough.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each aperture is between 2 to 3 mm in diameter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flow cell, the flow cell configured to transfer air within the chamber to the atmosphere.

4. An apparatus for ripening produce, the apparatus comprising:

a chamber having a plurality of walls integrally coupled to a floor;

a lid configured to be coupled with the chamber at an upper end thereof;

wherein at least one of the plurality of walls and the lid include at least one aperture extending therethrough.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein an inner surface of at least one of the plurality of walls comprises a plurality of flanges extending therefrom, each flange positioned adjacent to each other, a groove formed between adjacent flanges.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each flange is substantially parallel to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each flange is about 0.5 inches in depth.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a bottom surface of the lid comprises a plurality of flanges extending therefrom, each flange positioned adjacent to each other, a groove formed between adjacent flanges.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each flange is substantially parallel to each other.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each flange is about 0.5 inches in depth.

11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a top surface of the floor comprises a plurality of first flanges extending therefrom, each first flange positioned adjacent to each other, a first set of grooves formed between adjacent first flanges.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the top surface of the floor further comprises a plurality of second flanges extending therefrom, each second flange positioned adjacent to each other, a second set of grooves formed between adjacent second flanges.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first set of grooves intersect the second set of grooves, each intersecting groove forming a grid.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the grid is about 0.5 inches in length, width and depth.

15. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a flow cell, the flow cell configured to transfer air within the chamber to the atmosphere.

16. A system for ripening produce, the system comprising:

a substantially enclosed storage means for storing ethylene producing produce;

an engagement means within the enclosed storage means for maximizing surface area of the stored produce exposed to air within the enclosed storage means; and

an outlet means for releasing gases from the enclosed storage means to the atmosphere.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the enclosed storage means comprises a chamber having a plurality of walls integrally coupled to a floor, and a lid configured to be coupled with the chamber at an upper end thereof.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the engagement means comprises a plurality of first flanges extending from a top surface of the floor, each first flange positioned adjacent to each other, a first set of grooves formed between adjacent first flanges.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the engagement means further comprises a plurality of second flanges extending the top surface of the floor, each second flange positioned adjacent to each other, a second set of grooves formed between adjacent second flanges, the first set of grooves intersecting the second set of grooves, each intersecting groove forming a grid.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the outlet means comprises a flow cell, the flow cell configured to transfer air within the enclosed storage means to the atmosphere.