Method of operating a drenching apparatus
US5888570A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA23B7/158
- WIPO fieldFood chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of operating a drenching apparatus for drenching fruit and vegetables with an aqueous chemical solution having a pit for holding a large volume of the solution, a drench pump for drawing the solution from the pit and discharging it into manifolds equipped with nozzles for drenching the fruit, recovery apparatus for returning excess solution to the pit which is a holding tank for holding a volume of the solution; a heater, including a heater pump, connected to the holding tank and arranged to maintain the temperature of the solution therein; a re-circulation pump connected to draw solution from the pit and direct it to a heater with a conduit connecting said holding tank to said pit. The volume of the holding tank being sufficient to assure that portions of the solution are maintained at said temperature for a time to eradicate pathogens.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.