Method and apparatus for controlling the ripening of fresh produce
US4824685A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 1987 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA23B7/148
- WIPO fieldFood chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The disclosure is related to a method and apparatus for controlling the ripening of fresh produce, particularly the ripening of fresh fruit such as bananas. The fresh produce is arranged into a palletized load which is inserted into a ripening chamber. The palletized load is arranged into two spaced rows, each of said rows including two vertically spaced tiers to maximize the total amount of produce to be processed for the given floor space of the ripening chamber. A low pressure plenum is formed between the two rows of palletized produce by sealing the space between the rows and the vertical space between the two tiers. A controlled fluid flow is introduced around the palletized produce load and fluid is exhausted from the low pressure plenum to create a pressure differential across the produce load such that the introduced fluid is forced to flow from the space around the produce load, uniformly through the produce load and into the low pressure plenum. The uniform fluid flow is utilized to control the ripening of the inserted produce load.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.