Method and apparatus for ripening products in a temperature-controlled room

• US 6,077,160 A
• Filed: 04/14/1999
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chiquita Brands LLC (Chiquita Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Chiquita Brands LLC (Chiquita Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mizera, Grzegorz Pawel, Franaszek, Stanislaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US09/291,887
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 62/407, 62/413, 62/418, 62/404, 62/419, 62/89, 62/78, 62/414, 62/417, 62/426, 454/292, 454/88, 454/118, 454/284, 454/301
• US Class Current: 454/292
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/148 in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3418 in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/003 Transport containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/005 in cold rooms
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0665 from the top
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/067 characterised by air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products

Abstract

A ripening room is disclosed for ripening perishable products, such as fruits and vegetables, and more particularly bananas, in which the air flow and temperature are closely controlled by the room construction and by a cooling control system that archives uniform ripening of the fruit regardless of the physical location of the fruit within the room. These desired results are accomplished using a minimum quantity of energy and cooling capacity by use of an improved cooling controller that gradually changes the temperature setpoint over time to allow the cooling (refrigeration) system to operate near its full capacity without any periods of intense cooling (due to sudden changes of the temperature setpoint, as in the prior art). The uniform ripening is also achieved by an improved air distribution system that provides a greater back pressure in portions of a ripening room that, in conventional designs, receives far too much air flow.

Claims

1. A ripening room, the improvement comprising:

an air distribution ceiling having a front end, a rear end, and side edges therebetween; and

at least one air passageway positioned along each of said side edges.

2. The ripening room as recited in claim 1, wherein the individual ones of said at least one air passageway become progressively smaller toward said front end.

3. The ripening room as recited in claim 1, wherein the rear end of said air distribution ceiling is positioned at an elevation lower than the elevation of said front end.

4. The ripening room as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a "V"-shaped air distributor positioned above the air distribution ceiling for directing air flow into said at least one air passageway.

5. The ripening room as recited in claim 4, wherein the rear end of said air distribution ceiling is positioned at an elevation lower than the elevation of said front end, and wherein the individual ones of said at least one air passageway become progressively smaller toward the front end.

6. A ripening room, the improvement comprising:

an air distribution ceiling having a front end, a rear end, and side edges therebetween; and

an elongated air passageway positioned along each of said side edges.

7. The ripening room as recited in claim 6, wherein the rear end of said air distribution ceiling is positioned at an elevation lower than the elevation of said front end.

8. The ripening room as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a "V"-shaped air distributor positioned above the air distribution ceiling for directing air flow into said at least one air passageway.

9. The ripening room as recited in claim 8, wherein the rear end of said air distribution ceiling is positioned at an elevation lower than the elevation of said front end, and wherein said at least one elongated air passageway comprises a slot having its longitudinal dimension traversing substantially the distance between said front and rear ends.