Device for ripening fruit
First Claim
1. A device for ripening fruit loaded onto a pallet located inside an airtight ripening chamber said device having a ceiling and comprising:
- a) an airflow separating means to separate said ripening chamber into an interior airflow space to accommodate said loaded pallet and an exterior airflow space, said exterior space extending around said interior space in heat-exchanging relationship therewith;
b) an air circulation mechanism positionable above said load or beneath said pallet and having a suction hood connectable in an airtight manner to said airflow separating means to circulate air or other gaseous fluid and create a vertical pressure differential within each said separate space of said chamber to cause a vertical air flow in each of said interior and exterior airflow spaces, said vertical air flows being in opposing directions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for ripening fruit, such as bananas, and a device fop carrying out the method. According to the invention, a fluid is cooled and guided along the fruit by circulation means conveying said fluid through a load of fruit placed on a pallet, the load being sealed essentially in an airtight manner in the peripheral direction, and the load being placed above or below the circulation means, while the fluid is conveyed through the load essentially in the vertical direction by the circulation means. The circulation means preferably suck the fluid up through the load from the bottom or down through the load from the top, and then guide it along the cooling means, following which, as the result of a pressure difference caused by the circulation means, the fluid is conveyed again along the outside of the load to the bottom or top side, respectively, thereof.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A device for ripening fruit loaded onto a pallet located inside an airtight ripening chamber said device having a ceiling and comprising:
-
a) an airflow separating means to separate said ripening chamber into an interior airflow space to accommodate said loaded pallet and an exterior airflow space, said exterior space extending around said interior space in heat-exchanging relationship therewith; b) an air circulation mechanism positionable above said load or beneath said pallet and having a suction hood connectable in an airtight manner to said airflow separating means to circulate air or other gaseous fluid and create a vertical pressure differential within each said separate space of said chamber to cause a vertical air flow in each of said interior and exterior airflow spaces, said vertical air flows being in opposing directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A device for ripening fruit loaded on at least one pallet located inside an airtight ripening chamber, said device having a ceiling and comprising:
-
a) an airflow separating means to separate said ripening chamber into an interior airflow space to accommodate said loaded pallet and an exterior airflow space; b) an air circulation mechanism connected to said ceiling of said ripening chamber to circulate air or other gaseous fluid and to create a vertical pressure differential within each said separate space of said chamber, and cause a vertical air flow in each of said interior and exterior airflow spaces, said vertical air flows being in opposing directions; and c) a support means to support said air circulation mechanism from said ceiling for vertical movement to facilitate assembly of said device with at least one said pallet. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23)
-
-
22. A device for ripening fruit loaded on at least one pallet located inside an airtight ripening chamber, said device having a ceiling and comprising:
-
a) an airflow separating means to separate said ripening chamber into an interior airflow space to accommodate said loaded pallet and an exterior airflow space; and b) an air circulation mechanism connected to said ceiling of said ripening chamber to circulate air or other gaseous fluid and to create a vertical pressure differential within each said separate space of said chamber, and cause a vertical air flow in each of said interior and exterior airflow spaces, said vertical air flows being in opposing directions; wherein said separating means comprises a loose, flexible curtain drawable into snug engagement with said boxes upon operation of said circulation mechanism.
-
-
24. A device for ripening fruit loaded onto a pallet located inside an airtight ripening chamber said device having a ceiling and comprising:
-
a) an airflow separating means to separate said ripening chamber into an interior airflow space to accommodate said loaded pallet and an exterior airflow space, said exterior space extending around and substantially embracing said interior space in heat-exchanging relationship therewith; and b) an air circulation mechanism positionable above said load or beneath said pallet and having a suction hood connectable in an airtight manner to said airflow separating means to circulate air or other gaseous fluid and create a vertical pressure differential within each said separate space of said chamber to cause a vertical air flow in each of said interior and exterior airflow spaces, said vertical air flows being in opposing directions; whereby air flowing through said interior space exchanges heat with air flowing through said exterior space to promote even temperature distribution and uniform ripening within said chamber.
-
Specification