Device and method for ripening fruit
First Claim
1. Method for ripening fruit, such as bananas, in which at least two rows of loaded pallets are placed one row above another in a chamber and defining a generally horizontal space between said one and other rows, in which fluid is cooled and circulated by cooling and circulation means disposed essentially at the level of said horizontal space, and in which a pressure difference between the longitudinal sides of said rows of loaded pallets is produced, as a result of which said fluid is forced to flow in an essentially horizontal direction from one longitudinal side to the other through said load of pallets, wherein said loaded pallets are placed in said chamber in such a way that said loads of two pallets are placed one above the other with an essentially horizontal space between said loads, said fluid being conveyed through said horizontal space from said one longitudinal side to said other longitudinal side, said fluid being cooled during this conveyance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a device and method for ripening fruit, such as bananas, comprising a chamber containing a frame in which at least two rows of loaded pallets are placed one above the other, in such a way that there is a free space on either side of the rows of loaded pallets, and comprising cooling means for the cooling of fluid provided in the lengthwise direction along the frame, and circulation means for conveying the fluid from one longitudinal side of the frame to the other longitudinal side, in such a way that a pressure difference arises between the space at one longitudinal side and the other, as a result of which the fluid flows back essentially in the horizontal direction through the load on the pallets from one longitudinal side to the other. According to the invention, the frame is in this case such that it provides for an essentially horizontal space between the loads of two rows of loaded pallets placed one above the other, by way of which horizontal space the circulation means convey the fluid from one longitudinal side to the other longitudinal side, said horizontal space being bounded at the bottom and top side by bottom and top seals respectively, and the cooling and circulation means being disposed essentially at the level of the horizontal space.
19 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. Method for ripening fruit, such as bananas, in which at least two rows of loaded pallets are placed one row above another in a chamber and defining a generally horizontal space between said one and other rows, in which fluid is cooled and circulated by cooling and circulation means disposed essentially at the level of said horizontal space, and in which a pressure difference between the longitudinal sides of said rows of loaded pallets is produced, as a result of which said fluid is forced to flow in an essentially horizontal direction from one longitudinal side to the other through said load of pallets, wherein said loaded pallets are placed in said chamber in such a way that said loads of two pallets are placed one above the other with an essentially horizontal space between said loads, said fluid being conveyed through said horizontal space from said one longitudinal side to said other longitudinal side, said fluid being cooled during this conveyance.
-
2. A device for ripening fruit comprising:
-
a) a chamber; b) a frame contained within said chamber; c) at least two rows of loaded pallets supporting air-permeable loads of fruit contained within said frame wherein said pallets are placed one above the other to produce a free space on either side of Said rows of loaded pallets and wherein said frame provides for an essentially horizontal space between said rows Of loaded pallets; d) a bottom sealing plate and a top sealing plate, wherein said horizontal space is bounded by said sealing plates to prevent fluid flow directly out of said horizontal space into said loads; e) a vertical space at one longitudinal side formed by two adjacent rows of said loaded pallets; f) a vertical space at the Other longitudinal side formed by the opposite face of said loaded pallets and the inner surface of said frame; g) a cooling means disposed longitudinally, essentially at the level of said horizontal space for the cooling of fluid; and h) a circulation means disposed longitudinally, essentially at the level of said horizontal space for conveying said cooled fluid from one longitudinal side of said frame to the other whereby said fluid flows back essentially in the horizontal direction through said load on the pallets from said one longitudinal side to said other longitudinal side; whereby said device is operable to ripen fruit uniformly. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A device for ripening fruit in a chamber comprising:
-
a) a frame containable within said chamber, said frame being adapted to support at least two rows of pallets bearing air-permeable loads of fruit, said rows extending in a longitudinal direction and being disposed one above the other and defining a free fluid flow space on either side of said rows of pallets and an essentially horizontal space between said rows of pallets; b) a bottom sealing member and a top sealing member bounding said horizontal space prevent fluid flow directly from said horizontal space into said loads; c) fluid cooling and circulating means disposed in said frame essentially at the level of said horizontal space and extending in said longitudinal direction;
whereby cooling fluid can be circulated to flow back essentially in the horizontal direction through said loads of fruit from one longitudinal side of a row to the other longitudinal side to promote uniform cooling of said loads of fruit.
-
Specification