ES2753252T3 - Method of providing a regulated atmosphere for packaging perishable items - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of providing a desired atmosphere within a sealed enclosure, wherein at least one product is disposed within the sealed enclosure, the method comprising: evacuating air from the sealed enclosure through at least one conduit to create a first predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure, in which evacuation is controlled by a controller programmed with target parameters, setpoints, and / or operating instructions to provide a desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure; injecting gas into the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit to create an atmosphere with a second predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure, wherein the injection of the gas is controlled by the controller according to target parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions; regulating gas levels and / or pressure levels within the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit to regulate the atmosphere to a predetermined gas level and / or a predetermined pressure level within the sealed enclosure, wherein the gas levels and / or pressure levels are controlled by the controller programmed with one or more target parameters, set points and / or operating instructions to provide a substance treatment in combination with the desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure; and being characterized by: applying a predetermined amount of at least one substance in addition to the atmosphere in the sealed enclosure to the at least one product, wherein the application of the at least one substance is controlled by the controller according to the target parameters, points reference and / or operating instructions and the at least one substance is coated, absorbed into, or infused into the at least one product.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Method of providing a regulated atmosphere for packaging perishable items

Cross reference to related requests

This application is a PCT based on the US patent application. No. 13/839460, filed March 15, 2013, which is a continuation in part of the US patent application. No. 13/602988, filed September 4, 2012, which is a continuation of US Patent Application. No. 11/932611, filed Oct. 31, 2007, now U.S. Patent No. No. 8,256,190, filed September 4, 2012, which is a continuation in part of the US patent application. No. 10/336962, filed Jan. 6, 2003, now U.S. Patent No. No. 7,644,560, filed Jan. 12, 2010, which is a continuation in part of U.S. Patent Application. No. 10/000211, filed Oct. 22, 2001, now U.S. Patent No. No. 6,685,012, filed February 3, 2004, which is a divisional of US Patent Application No. 09/393047, filed September 9, 1999, now U.S. Patent No. No. 6,305,148, issued October 23, 2001. Each of the US patent applications above claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) on the U.S. provisional application. No. 60/099728, filed on September 10, 1998, entitled "System and Method Providing a Regulated Atmosphere for Packaging Perishable Goods".

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating a sealed enclosure around perishable or atmosphere sensitive products for transportation or storage. Such a method is known for example from US 2003/0182900 A1 or US 6305148 B1. More particularly, the invention relates to a storage method and system for enclosing items to be transported, on a pallet, for example, by providing a desired atmosphere or environment within the enclosure, and optionally monitoring and controlling the atmosphere or environment inside the enclosure during transport. The present invention further relates to methods and systems for the introduction of disinfecting agents, flavorings, preservatives and other substances into sealed enclosures containing products such as perishable food products.

Background of the Invention

Perishable or environmentally sensitive items are at risk of being damaged by numerous sources such as wind, dirt, heat, insects, etc. during transportation. Various forms of packaging have been used to minimize damage or deterioration of such articles. For example, items are often attached to a pallet to facilitate transportation of such items and to protect items from damage caused by displacement during transportation. In order to further protect and preserve the articles during transportation, it is well known to cover the articles to form an enclosure around the articles. Known techniques for creating an enclosure include heat shrinkable plastic around articles that have been placed on a pallet or placing a plastic bag around the articles on a pallet. By forming such an enclosure, called a "sealed enclosure" herein, the articles can be protected from environmental factors such as moisture or other contaminants. The more airtight the sealed enclosure is, the better the articles will be protected from the sealed enclosure from external contaminants.

FIG. 1 shows a well-known apparatus 50 for storing items during transportation. The apparatus 50 includes a base cover 10 located on a pallet 30. Once the base cover is placed on the pallet 30, the base cover 10 is usually held in place by the articles 40 which are stacked on top of the cap 10 base. The base cap 10 further includes fins or side walls 12 that extend upward from the peripheral edges of the base cap 10, to surround and keep the articles 40 within their limits. Typically, the items 40 are then additionally attached to the base cap 10 and pallet 30 with staples or some type of adhesive tape that wraps around the items 40 and the base cap 10.

The base cover 10 forms a barrier between the articles 40 and the pallet 30 and is normally composed of some kind of relatively waterproof plastic material shaped to fit on the pallet 30. The base cover 10 seals and protects the bottom surface of items 40 from contamination and also provides a surface to which the items 40 can be attached. The base cap 10 can be of any shape or material, but is preferably dimensioned to cover the pallet 30 and preferably is comprised of a material relatively impervious to water and gas to form a sealing barrier on the underside of the articles 40. The articles 40 are stacked on the base cover 10 which is placed on top of the pallet 30. The articles 40 can be of a variety of types or sizes and preferably they are in boxes or containers. Although three layers of items 40 are shown in boxes, there may be more or fewer layers. The combination of articles 40 stacked on the base cap and pallet 30, as illustrated in Figure 1, is referred to herein as the loaded pallet 50.

Figure 2 illustrates a well known method of creating a sealed enclosure around the loaded pallet 50 of the Figure 1. A bag-like cover 90 is placed around the articles 40 and fastened to the base lid 10 of the loaded pallet 50, thereby forming a sealed enclosure around the articles 40. Preferably, the bag cover 90 adheres to base cap 10 and pallet 30 with tape, or another well-known technique, to create an airtight seal.

The prior art enclosure systems, such as those discussed above, suffer from many disadvantages. The use of a bag cover 90 to form the enclosure, as shown in Figure 2, is disadvantageous because it is difficult to seal the lower end of the cover 90 with the base cap 10. Bag cover 90 is often larger than base cover 10, so sealing bag cover 90 to base cover 10 requires folding and folding bag cover 90. Folding and folding the bag cover 90 to fit the base cover 10 prevents smooth contact between the inner surface of the bag cover 90 and the outer edges of the base cover 10. Furthermore, the folds and folds form possible gaps or channels for gases to bypass the seal, thus preventing an airtight enclosure.

Also, when plastic is wrapped around palletized items, it is difficult to completely seal the enclosure, especially on the top and bottom sides. The wrap must curl around the corners and edges of the items 40, leading to possible gaps or kinks in the wrap. As discussed above, voids and bends are undesirable because they provide possible channels for air to escape from or enter the sealed enclosure.

Once the articles 40 have been loaded onto the pallet 30 and sealed by some method, such as by the cover 90 and the base cover 10 as described above, the articles 40 can be further protected and preserved by providing an atmosphere modified within the enclosure surrounding the articles 40. For example, it is well known to inject gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide into the enclosure in order to slow down the deterioration of the articles, for example, by the growth of organisms that can contribute to the natural deterioration of the agricultural product. Other gas mixtures can help maintain articles 40 if stored at an appropriate temperature and humidity.

Sealed article enclosures are especially important in these modified air systems. If the sealed enclosure is leaking, the benefit gases can escape. Also, a change in the composition of the gases in the enclosure can damage the items. For example, an excessive amount of CO in the room can cause food to discolor and change the flavor.

The prevailing current technique for introducing the modified atmosphere into the sealed enclosure is to inject the gas mixture through a flexible tube with a needle tip. The needle-tip flexible tube is inserted through the cover of a sealed enclosure (such as the bag cover 90 in Figure 2). The needle tip hose is then taped to the cover and a desired gas mixture is injected through the hose into the sealed enclosure. The procedure ends by removing the needle-tip flexible tube from the enclosure and resealing the resulting hole in the cover with tape or other adhesive.

This current system for introducing the modified atmosphere into the sealed enclosure is disadvantageous. The steps of manually drilling the enclosure to insert the hose with water and resealing the resulting hole take a lot of work, adding cost and delay to the shipping procedure. The procedure of drilling and releasing the enclosure is also undesirable because it can create a possible leak in the enclosure. Adhesive tape or adhesive may not seal properly, creating leaks in the sealed enclosure.

Another disadvantage of current enclosed pallet transport systems is that they do not allow the user to monitor and adjust the atmosphere within the sealed enclosure during storage or transport. A typical result of this deficiency is that the atmosphere deteriorates during storage or transport. For example, respiration in agricultural products will accelerate the maturation and aging of agricultural products during transport and will change the quality of gases in the enclosure. As a result, items may deteriorate during transportation, especially if delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Also, the carrier cannot adjust the atmosphere to accommodate an item with varying needs. For example, ripening of fruits is generally undesirable during transport and storage, but may be desirable when the fruits are close to their final markets. It is well known that certain gas combinations impede fruit ripening while others promote fruit maturity. Therefore, it is desirable to make the enclosure contain the first gas mixture for most of the transport, but to switch to the second gas mixture when the fruits are close to their final markets.

It is also known that it is beneficial to provide a controlled environment around the articles 49 during transportation and storage. For example, the articles 40 can be transported in freight cars, ships or refrigerated trucks. Within the goods storage area of specialized transport vehicles, the temperature or atmospheric content around the items can be adjusted and controlled during transport. However, the transport of articles by these vehicles with control of the environment has several problems. The most notable is that most transport vehicles do not have the capacity to control the atmospheric environment of the goods storage area. For example, most trucks only have the ability to keep the temperature of your goods cold. Controlling the environment requires specialized equipment and this specialized equipment significantly raises costs for the transport vehicle, ship, or storage facility. As a result, there are not enough environmentally controlled vehicles to transport items. Transporting a wider variety of items in controlled environments could provide significant consumer benefits by reducing loss of items during transportation.

A further disadvantage of today's vehicles that have a combined temperature and controlled atmosphere enclosure is the dehydration of products during storage (due to evaporation through refrigeration). A lot of energy is required to cool a large room. Energy consumption raises fuel and transportation costs, and the negative effects of weight loss and product dehydration due to relative vapor pressure on unprotected agricultural products can be significant.

Therefore, in view of the deficiencies and problems associated with the prior art methods and systems for storing and transporting perishable and environmentally sensitive articles, an improved method and system of transporting such articles is necessary. A method and system is desired to more easily and effectively create a sealed enclosure around perishable items. There is also a need for a method and system that can provide, monitor, and / or maintain a controlled environment within the sealed enclosure of a pallet, container, or other conventional shipping unit without the use of expensive specialized vehicles that have goods storage areas with controlled atmosphere, such as ships, specialized maritime containers, and refrigerated trucks, for example.

Additionally, improved methods and systems are needed to effectively and efficiently introduce substances such as disinfectants, flavors and preservatives into sealed enclosures containing products such as perishables.

Summary of the invention

The present invention remedies many of the disadvantages of the known apparatus and methods for transporting perishable items by providing an apparatus and method for creating a sealed enclosure around perishable items stacked on a pallet, container, or storage unit and further providing a method and a apparatus for establishing and maintaining a protective atmosphere within the sealed enclosure of the pallet, container, or storage unit.

In one embodiment, a method may be provided to deliver a desired substance treatment within a sealed enclosure either before, or during or after creating a modified or controlled atmosphere, wherein at least one product is disposed within the sealed enclosure. . The method includes regulating gas levels and / or pressure levels within the sealed enclosure through at least one conduit to create an atmosphere with a predetermined first gas level and / or a predetermined first pressure level within the sealed enclosure. , in which gas levels and / or pressure levels are controlled by a controller programmed with one or more target parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions to provide a substance treatment in combination with the desired atmosphere within of the sealed enclosure; and dosing and / or adding a predetermined amount of at least one substance to the interior of the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit, wherein the addition of the substance is controlled by the controller according to the target parameters, setpoints and / or or operating instructions, in which the at least one substance coats, is absorbed in, or infused into the at least one product.

A method is provided for providing a desired atmosphere within a sealed enclosure. At least one product is arranged within the sealed enclosure. The method includes: evacuating air from the sealed enclosure through at least one duct to create a predetermined first pressure within the sealed enclosure and applying a predetermined amount of at least one substance to the at least one product. Evacuation and application are controlled by a controller programmed with target parameters, setpoints, and / or operating instructions to provide a desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure. The method includes monitoring the atmosphere within the sealed enclosure by taking samples from the atmosphere and comparing at least one parameter from which samples have been taken with the target parameters, benchmarks and / or operating instructions and maintaining and / or adjusting the atmosphere within of the sealed enclosure based on monitoring, in which the maintenance and / or adjustment of the atmosphere is controlled by the controller according to objective parameters, reference points and / or operating instructions. In another embodiment, the at least one substance may include at least one of a foam, a gel, an encapsulated material, a gas, a powder, a micro or nanoparticle, a fluidized compound, a liquid, or a vaporized liquid, an acid. food grade, a mineral salt, a mineral salt solution, a nutritional additive, a sweetener, a flavor enhancer, a disinfecting substance, a flavoring substance, a preservative substance, a food additive substance, a coating substance, a coloring substance, a nutritional substance, a sealing substance, a mineral substance, a vitamin substance, an essence and / or essential oil substance, or a biological substance, a probiotic, or a substance that contains at least one of ozone, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, nitrous oxide, peracetic acid, nitrite, nitrate compound, iodine, benzoate, propionate, nisin, sulfate, sorbate, thymol. In one embodiment, the method may further include treating one or more packaging materials with the at least one substance before disposing the at least one product in the sealed enclosure, where the one or more packaging materials are used as part of a consumer unit, a main shipping unit or to form the sealed enclosure; and activating the one or more packaging materials treated with the at least one substance using pressure, electric or electrostatic charge, light or sound waves.

In another embodiment, each of the methods and systems described above, further includes a sensor, to measure and / or monitor the atmosphere or pressure within the enclosure, and a controller (eg, a programmable logic controller) to control the amount of Desired gases introduced into the sealed enclosure. The amount of selected gas present in, or introduced into, the enclosure is monitored and / or measured by the sensor which in turn is coupled to the controller, or another well known processor. Upon receiving the data from the sensors, the controller can either open or close the valve to either start or stop the flow of gas inlet from the gas tanks into the enclosure. Optionally, the controller can be disconnected from the sealed enclosure once the initial desired atmosphere is achieved, or the controller can remain attached to the system during storage or transport to continuously monitor and maintain the desired atmosphere throughout its duration of the route or the storage period.

A further aspect of the present application provides a method of introducing at least one substance, which comprises locating at least one product within a sealed enclosure, the sealed enclosure having at least one conduit through which one of gas or fluid can flow into the inside or outside of the sealed enclosure, evacuate air from the sealed enclosure through the at least one duct to create a predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure, and inject a predetermined amount of the at least one substance into the sealed enclosure through the at minus a conduit.

A further aspect of the present application provides a method of introducing at least one substance, which comprises locating at least one product within a sealed enclosure, the sealed enclosure having at least one conduit through which one of gas or fluid can flow into the inside or outside the sealed enclosure, evacuate air from the sealed enclosure until a first pressure value is created within the sealed enclosure, maintain the first pressure value within the sealed enclosure for a predetermined first period of time, introduce air into the enclosure sealed until a second pressure value is created within the sealed enclosure, the air containing a predetermined amount of the at least one substance, maintaining the second pressure value within the sealed enclosure for a second predetermined period of time, evacuating air from the sealed chamber until a third pressure value is created within the sealed chamber, and maintain the third value of pressure within the sealed enclosure for a third predetermined period of time.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a prior art method and system of packaging items on a pallet by placing a base cap between the items and the pallet.

Figure 2 illustrates a prior art sealed enclosure created by a cover positioned over the articles and attached to the base cap of Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a sealed enclosure formed by a base cover, a bag-like cover and at least one valve coupled to the base cover, according to an embodiment of the invention. Optionally, at least one valve can be incorporated into the cover in addition to, or alternatively to, at least one valve coupled to the base cap.

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a sealed enclosure consisting of a base cap, a top cap, and a side wrap that adheres to the base and top caps according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the base cap of Figures 3 and 4 having flanges according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a bottom view of the tabbed base cap of Figure 5, taken from a perspective indicated by line 6-6 of that figure.

Figure 7 illustrates a side view of the tabbed base cap of Figure 5 lying on a pallet.

Figure 8 illustrates a bottom view of the base cap of Figure 7 lying on a pallet, taken from a perspective indicated by line 8-8 of that figure.

Figure 9 illustrates a system for applying a side wrap around articles located between a base cap and a top cap, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 illustrates other systems for applying a wrap to palletized articles, according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 illustrates a sensor, pressure switch, controller, and gas tank coupled to a scale enclosure, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Optionally, a computer is coupled to the controller.

Figure 12 illustrates multiple sealed enclosures (or other commercial transportation or storage unit) that are monitored and / or controlled by multiple sensors, at least one gas tank, and at least one controller, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 13 illustrates a block diagram of some of the components of a controller according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a flow chart illustrating some steps of a modified atmosphere procedure according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 15 is a flow chart illustrating some steps of a controlled atmosphere procedure that first checks the oxygen content, then the carbon dioxide content according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 16 is a flow chart illustrating some steps of a controlled atmosphere procedure that simultaneously checks the oxygen and carbon dioxide content according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 17 is a flow chart of a method used to create and maintain a sealed enclosure with a top and base cover and a side wrap according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 18 is a flow chart of a method used to create and maintain a scale enclosure with a bag cover and a base cap according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 19 is a diagram illustrating a manual stacking procedure.

Fig. 20 is a diagram illustrating a manual wrapping procedure.

Figure 21 illustrates the pallet that is attached to a gas controller.

Figure 22 illustrates a semi-automatic procedure that packages products on a pallet and inserts a desired atmosphere within the pallet.

Figures 23a and 23b illustrate the lift table with fingers.

Figure 24 illustrates an example of a gasification station.

Figure 25 illustrates an automated procedure for wrapping and inserting a desired amount of gas into a pellet before the pallet is ready to ship.

Figure 26 illustrates a wrapping station 800 in one embodiment.

Figures 27a and 27b illustrate a finger lift table for holding a pallet in place.

Figures 28a and 28b illustrate the wrapping procedure for one or more products stacked on a pallet in one embodiment.

Figure 29a illustrates a pallet having a wrap and a bag.

Figure 29b illustrates a pallet 1104 having wraps.

Figure 30 illustrates a pallet wrapped in a manifold system that is connected to flexible injection tubes. Figure 31 illustrates a pipeline portion of a manifold having a pressure relief valve.

Figure 32a illustrates a multi-zone controller 1402.

Figure 32b illustrates a single zone controller 1404.

Figures 33a-d illustrate a plurality of wrapped pallets connected to a plurality of manifolds.

Figure 34 shows a sensor, a pressure switch, a controller, an optional computer, and a gas source coupled to a rigid container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description

The invention is described in detail below with reference to the figures, where like elements are referred to with like numbers throughout the document. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for creating a sealed enclosure around perishable or atmosphere-sensitive products for storage and transportation (eg, palletized articles), introducing a desired atmosphere into the sealed enclosure, and optionally maintain a controlled atmosphere within the enclosure during the transport of the articles.

Figure 3 illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including a base cap 10 located on top of a pallet 30. As shown in Figure 3, the pallet 30 typically includes lifters or pins 32, which lift the bottom surface of the pallet 30 from the ground. This keeps items 40 away from contaminants that may be on the ground and further facilitates machinery, such as a forklift, to lift the pallet off the ground for transportation. The base cap 10 is normally rectangular or square in shape, to accommodate the size and shape of a typical pallet, and includes four fins or side walls 12 that extend upward from the four side edges of the shaped base cap 10 rectangular. The articles 40 are placed on top of the base cover 10 and at least a lower part of the articles 40 is surrounded by and is retained within the four side walls 12 of the base cover 10. The sealed pallet assembly further includes a bag-like cover 90 which is placed on and around the articles 40 to form a sealed enclosure around the articles 40 together with the base cover 10. Cover 90 can be attached at its lower edges to base cover 10 by means of glue, adhesive tape, or any technique known in the art to create, as close as possible, an airtight seal between cover 90 and the cap 10 base. Thus, articles 40 are enclosed in a sealed environment created by cover 90 and base cover 10.

Figure 3 further illustrates a gas inlet / outlet valve 16, coupled to a side wall 12 of base cap 10, to allow a suitable coupling device attached to the end of a flexible tube, for example, to fit with the valve 16. Thus, valve 16 can receive a desired gas directed through the flexible tube into the sealed chamber or chamber. Additionally, valve 16 can expel unwanted gas out of the sealed enclosure or allow gas samples to flow to sensor 140 (Figure 11) for testing and monitoring purposes. Sensor 140 is described in further detail below with respect to FIG. 11.

Alternatively or additionally, the sealed enclosure of the present invention may include a gas inlet / outlet valve 18 coupled to the bag-like cover 90. In one embodiment, valve 18 can be integrated into cover 90 by any means known in the art. Similar to valve 16 described above, valve 18 allows an appropriate coupling device to engage valve 18 thereby allowing a desired gas, or a combination of gases, to flow into and out of the formed sealed enclosure. by cover 90 and base cover 10.

Each of valves 16 and 18 can be any of several well known valves that can be opened and closed, either manually or automatically, to either start or stop the flow of gases or liquids into or out of the sealed enclosure. . For example, valves 16 and 18 can be threaded pipe ends of metal or plastic that can be "closed" with a threaded cap and "opened" by fitting with a threaded end of a flexible tube. As another example, valves 16 and 18 can be of the type that connects to the end of a flexible tube used to provide carbonation from a carbonation tank to a soda dispensing machine found in most restaurants. In one embodiment, valves 16 and 18 are model "PLC-12" quick connect "valves, manufactured by Colder Products Company.

The base cap 10 functions as a barrier between the bottom surface of the articles 40 and the pallet 30 and functions to protect the articles 40 from contaminants and / or moisture present on the pallet or the ground. Base cap 10 may be composed of any material such as coated paper, plastic, metal, wood, or coated fabric but is preferably relatively impervious to gases and liquids in order to prevent gases and / or moisture from entering in or out of the sealed enclosure from the bottom.

Base lid 10 is preferably sized and shaped to fit the size and shape of pallet 30. In one embodiment, base lid 10 is rectangular in shape to substantially conform to the rectangular shape of pallet 30 on which it rests. The base cap 10 further includes four fins or side walls 12 each extending upward from a respective edge of the base cap 10 to cover and retain within its boundaries at least a bottom portion of the articles 40. The cap 10 base it may optionally be shaped as necessary for the protection and transportation of any shape and / or size of articles 40 or pallet 30.

Cover 90 can be composed of any desired material depending on the function that is desired to be performed. In one embodiment, cover 90 may be semi-permeable to prevent contaminants from entering the enclosure but to allow some gases to escape from the sealed enclosure to prevent the accumulation of undesirable gases. In another embodiment, the cover 90 may be gas impermeable to prevent the desired gases from escaping from the internal enclosure.

In another embodiment, cover 90 is sealed to base cover 10 with an adhesive stretch wrap or heat shrink wrap that is well known in the industry. The stretch wrap or heat shrink wrap surrounds the items 40 and the base cap 10. Once heat is applied, the size of the heat shrink wrap is reduced to tightly seal and hold the articles 40 and form a seal with the base cap 10.

Optionally, cover 90 can also have insulating qualities. For example, "bubble wrap" is a well-known technology that is an effective insulating material. The insulating cover can have other shapes such as fiberglass mesh or other high-tech fiber, various foam materials, plastic gels, cardboard liners, liner bags, etc. The particular shape and composition of the insulating covering are not limited in the present invention. The insulating cover can be used alone to cover the palletized article or can be layered with other covers. The insulating cover can be applied like any other cover and helps preserve the articles 40 by preventing contact with external contaminants and / or changes in the atmosphere within the sealed enclosure.

Furthermore, cover 90 can form a pest barrier. Cover 90 can be treated with a chemical treatment such as an insecticide or an insect repellent. Alternatively, the cover 90 may have a screen type quality to prevent pests from entering the sealed enclosure. The insect cover can be used by itself or in combination with other covers and / or wraps.

Referring to Figure 4, one embodiment of the invention includes a base cap 10 placed on top of a pallet 30 and articles 40 placed on top of the base cap 10. As discussed with reference to Figure 3, in one embodiment, the base lid 10 is rectangular in shape to fit the typical shape of a pallet and includes four side walls 12 that extend upward from the edges of the lid 10 base of rectangular shape to surround and retain within its limits at least a lower part of the articles 40 once they have been placed on top of, and inside, the base cap 10.

An upper cap 20 is then placed on the upper surface of the articles 40 to create an upper seal. To complete the enclosure, a side wrap 80 is applied around the side surfaces of the articles. Side wrap 80 overlaps base cap 10 and top cap 20 to create airtight seals at both intersections. Two methods of applying side wrap 80 around top 20 and base 10 caps, respectively, and articles 40, are described in further detail below with reference to Figures 9 and 10.

The top cap 20 functions as a barrier placed on the top surface of the articles 40. The top cap 20 may be composed of any material such as coated paper, plastic, metal, wood, or coated fabric but is preferably relatively impervious to gases and liquids in order to prevent gases and / or moisture from entering or leaving the sealed enclosure from the top. The top cap 20 is preferably shaped to cover the top surface of the uppermost articles 40. As shown in Figure 4, in one embodiment, the top cap 20 is rectangular in shape and includes four fins or side walls 22 that extend downward from each of the four edges of the top cap 20 to cover at least one upper part of articles 40. The upper cover 20 can optionally be shaped as necessary for the protection and transport of any shape and / or size of the articles. The combination of an upper lid 20 on a loaded pallet 50 is referred to herein as a pallet assembly.

Figure 4 further illustrates wrap 80 once it has been applied around covers 10 and 20 and over items 40. Wrap 80 overlaps items 40, base cap 10 and top cap 20 to create a sealed enclosure. The envelope 80 can be composed of any desired material depending on the function that is desired to be performed. In one embodiment, wrap 80 may be semi-permeable to prevent contaminants from entering the enclosure but to allow some gases to escape from the sealed enclosure to prevent the accumulation of undesirable gases. In another embodiment, the envelope 80 may be gas impermeable to prevent the desired gases from escaping from the internal enclosure. In addition, the products contained within the pallet enclosure may be packaged in permeable or semi-permeable films to allow these products to be treated with (or exposed to) disinfectant or maturation control agents, and / or to allow these pre-packaged products achieve a different modified atmosphere than the "master" atmosphere of the pallet once the pallet enclosure has been removed.

In another embodiment, wrap 80 is sealed with an adhesive stretch wrap or heat shrink wrap that is well known in the industry. The stretch wrap or heat shrink wrap surrounds the items 40, the base cap 10 and the top cap 20. Once heat is applied, the size of the heat shrink wrap is reduced to tightly seal and hold the articles 40 between the base cap and the top cap 20.

Optionally, wrap 80 may also have insulating qualities. For example, "bubble wrap" is a well-known technology that is an effective insulating material. The wrapper can have other shapes such as fiberglass mesh or other high-tech fiber, various foam materials, plastic gels, cardboard liners, liner bags, etc. The particular shape and composition of the insulating wrap are not limited in the present invention. The insulating wrap can be used alone to cover the palletized item or can be layered with other wraps or covers. The insulating wrap can be applied like any other wrap and helps preserve the articles 40 by preventing contact with external contaminants and / or changes in the atmosphere within the sealed enclosure.

In addition, wrap 80 can form a pest barrier. Wrap 80 can be treated with a chemical treatment such as an insecticide or an insect repellent. Alternatively, the wrap 80 may have a screen type quality to prevent pests from entering the sealed enclosure. The anti-insect wrap can be used by itself or in combination with other wraps.

In the present invention, the base cap 10 optionally includes tabs 14 dimensioned to fit between slats normally found on pallet 30. Figure 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the base cap 10 having tabs 14 that help to hold the base cap 10 to pallet 30 by preventing base cap 10 from moving or sliding around pallet 30. Figure 6 illustrates a bottom view of base cap 10 of figure 5, taken from a perspective along from lines 6-6 of FIG. 5. In the shown embodiment, the base cap 10 includes four tabs 14 that extend outwardly from the bottom surface of the base cap 10. Figure 7 illustrates how the tabs 14 fit in the pallet slats 30 to horizontally lock the base cap 10 in place relative to the pallet 30. The tabs 14 can be of any size or material and are preferably constructed integrally. on the base cap. As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the base cap 10 is placed on top of the pallet 30, the tabs 14 extend down from the bottom surface of the base cap 10 and are inserted into the slats 34 (FIG. 8) of pallet 30 for attaching base cover 10 to pallet 30. Figure 5 shows a bottom perspective view of Figure 7 taken along lines 8-8 of that figure. The pallet includes legs 32, also known as risers 32, and three slats 34. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the tabs 14 of the base cap 10 fit into the outer corner regions of the two outer slats to lock the base cap 10 in place on pallet 30. In other embodiments, the number and size of flanges 14 and slats 34 can be varied depending on the desired configurations.

Referring again to FIG. 4, although application of wrap 80 can be accomplished by a series of manually executed steps, automated machinery improves the speed and accuracy of system application and provides significant economies of scale. The machine can either rotate the wrapper 80 around the pallet assembly or alternatively the machine can rotate the pallet assembly near a wrapper dispenser 80.

Figure 9 illustrates an automated wrapping system 100 that rotates a roll 108 of wrapping 80 around palletized items 40, base cap 10 and top cap 20. Rotation of a rotatable robotic arm 106 dispenses wrapper 80 around the pallet assembly. When the width of the wrap 80 is not as high as the pallet assembly, it is necessary for the wrap to spiral so that the entire vertical surface of the side walls of the pallet assembly is sealed. In order to carry out this spiral rotation, a support structure 104 and the rotating arm 106 are preferably combined to create a device that vertically translates the roll 108 from the envelope 80, coupled to the robotic arm 106, during the application of the envelope 80 For example, the rotating arm 106 may be threaded, causing the arm to move up and down as it spins. Alternatively, support 104 may have a hydraulic mechanism that drives rotary arm 106 up or down while spinning. Such hydraulic mechanisms are well known in the art. The wrapping machine 100 can spirally rotate the wrapper 80 automatically or the spiraling can be accomplished manually by one person operating the machine. Such automatic or manual machines are well known in the art.

Wrap system 100 further includes an optional conveyor belt 102 that transports palletized items to and from the location of the wrap. Otherwise, the pallet assembly can be moved to and from the wrap location by another method such as a forklift, for example. The holder 104 maintains the rotatable arm 106 that maintains the roll of the wrapper 80. The rotatable arm 106, in one embodiment, is coupled to a motor that rotates the rotatable arm 106 around the palletized articles. In another embodiment, arm 106 can be rotated manually.

Figure 10 shows a wrapping machine 110 that rotates the pallet assembly near a wrapping dispenser 114 according to another embodiment of the invention. The wrapping machine 110 has a platform 112 rotary that rotates the pallet assembly, in a direction indicated by arrow 116, for example, near dispensing arm 114. The pallet assembly can be placed on the rotary platform 112 using a forklift, robotic arm, or other mechanical device. Alternatively, the pallet assembly can be formed directly on platform 112. The platform can be rotated either manually or automatically by a motor.

As discussed above, if the width of the envelope is less than the height of the loaded pallet assembly, there is a need to vertically translate the envelope 80. Preferably, platform 112 and dispensing arm 114 combine to form a mechanism. vertically moving a roll of wrap 80, coupled to dispensing arm 114, relative to palletized articles 40 to spirally wrap wrap 80 around the surfaces of the sealed enclosure. For example, dispensing arm 114 may be threaded to force wrap 80 up or down at a desired rate when wrap 80 is applied.

Once a sealed enclosure has been formed by one of the methods described above, the present invention further includes a method of establishing and optionally maintaining a modified atmosphere within the sealed enclosure during storage or transportation of palletized articles. . Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of a method and system for establishing, and optionally maintaining a controlled environment within the sealed enclosure. The system includes a sensor 140 that can receive gas samples from the sealed enclosure through a flexible tube 145 coupled to a valve 130 located in the top cap 20. Sensor 140 can be any one of several well-known sensors that can detect or measure a desired parameter such as, for example, temperature, concentration levels, humidity, pressure, chemical composition, etc. Once sensor 140 analyzes a gas sample, for example, it processes the information and converts the information into a predetermined data format. This data is then transmitted to a controller 150 for further processing.

In one embodiment, controller 150 is a programmable logic controller (PLC) that receives data from sensors 140 and then implements some type of corrective or response action. As shown in FIG. 11, controller 150 is coupled to an automated valve 160 which in turn is coupled to a gas tank 170. When valve 160 is in an open state, it allows gas to flow from tank 170 through flexible tube 180 into the sealed enclosure through a second valve 190 coupled to top cap 20. Controller 150 regulates the flow of a desired gas from gas tank 170 into the sealed enclosure by either opening or closing valve 160 in response to data received from sensors 140. In alternative embodiments, valve 190 may be of a type that can automatically open and close and the controller can be directly coupled to valve 190, thereby directly controlling the operation of valve 190 to regulate the flow of one or more gases into the sealed enclosure.

The system of Figure 11 further includes a third valve 132, coupled to the top cover 20, to evacuate the internal area surrounded by the sealed enclosure. Typically, an evacuation procedure is carried out prior to injection of a desired gas from an external gas source, eg, gas tank 170, into the sealed enclosure. A pressure switch 135, coupled to third valve 132 measures the atmospheric pressure within the sealed enclosure during the evacuation procedure to ensure that the sealed enclosure has been evacuated sufficiently before the pressurized gas flow from the gas source External can enter the sealed enclosure through flexible tube 180 and second valve 190. Pressure switch 135 is coupled to controller 150 and sends a signal to controller 150 once sufficient vacuum has been created by the evacuation procedure. Thereafter, controller 150 may operate automated valve 160 and / or valve 190 to begin the flow of pressurized gas, in any case referred to herein as "injection," into the sealed enclosure.

FIG. 11 further illustrates an optional computer 154 that is connected to controller 150 through a communication link 152. Computer 154 can be a conventional personal computer that is well known in the art and can be used to program controller 150 with target parameters, setpoints, and / or operating instructions, so that the controller implements a desired protocol to provide functions monitoring and maintaining a desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure. Computer 152 may be just one of many computers, or servers, connected to each other on a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN), or the Internet, for example. The Internet and LAN and WAN networks are well known technologies and need not be described further in this document. By providing connectivity through a computer network, such as the Internet, for example, users located at remote computer terminals have the ability to access data stored on controller 150 and / or computer 154, send commands or instructions to controller 150 , and monitor the atmosphere within the sealed enclosure.

The communication link 152 can be any type of conventional link such as, for example, an ISDN communication line. Alternatively, communication link 152 may be a wireless link such as an analog or digital communication link. Such communication techniques Analog and digital wireless are well known in the art. By providing a wireless link 152, a user located at computer 154 can monitor and send instructions to controller 150 while the rest of the structures illustrated in Figure 11 are transported to a location away from computer 154.

The particular desired atmospheric gas mixture to be monitored by controller 150, as described above, depends on the needs of the items. Preferably, a person can program this desired blend into controller 150. Achieving the correct atmosphere is important because it can substantially increase the longevity of many items. The appropriate initial modified atmosphere load, together with the appropriate film (barrier or semi-permeable), can provide a high degree of atmospheric regulation or maintainability, as well as atmospheric consistency within the pallet of enclosed product (s). The gas mixture can also include ozone or other disinfecting treatments either individually, in sequence, or in various combinations to eliminate pathogens without damaging the product. Particular gas mixtures are well known and need not be discussed further herein.

Each of valves 130 and 190 is preferably a part that is integrally connected to top cap 20 to allow access to the sealed enclosure. In one embodiment, each of the valves 130 and 190 is a "snap connector" made of plastic, rubber, or other similar material that allows the flexible tubes to snap on and separate from the sealed enclosure. Quick connectors are well known technology. For example, model PLC-12 quick connectors manufactured by Colder Products Company may be used. Valves 130 and 190 can be integrated parts in base cover 10 or top cover 20. Alternatively, valves 130 and 190 can be attached to any part of bag-like cover 90 (Figure 3) or shell 80 (Figure 4). In such a system, a hole is cut in bag 90 or wrap 80. Valves 130 and 190 are then attached to the hole with glue, tape, heating, or any other method known in the art.

Automated valve 160 and third valve 132 can be any one of several well known valves that can be automatically controlled and operated by a controller such as a programmable logic controller. Additionally, any or all of valves 130, 132 and 190 may alternatively be coupled to base cap 10 instead of top cap 20.

FIG. 12 illustrates a top perspective view of multiple sealed enclosures in a series being monitored by a single controller 150. For each sealed enclosure, a sensor 140 is coupled, through flexible tube 145, to a valve 130 which is in turn it is coupled to the top cover 20 of each sealed enclosure. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, each sensor 140 is electronically coupled to controller 150 and periodically transmits data to controller 150 according to a protocol programmed into controller 150. Based on the data received from each of sensors 140, controller 150 controls the operation of the tank valve 162. In one embodiment, valve 162 is an automatic valve with one inlet port and multiple outlet ports that can be automatically controlled by command signals received from controller 150. Controller 150 can initiate the flow of a particular gas, or atmosphere, from gas tank 170 into selected sealed enclosures by opening selected outlet ports of valve 162, thereby allowing the desired atmosphere to flow from gas tank 170 through a respective flexible tube 180 and into the sealed enclosure selected through respective valves 190. It is understood that the particular configuration of the system shown in Figure 12 is only one of the many possible configurations according to the invention. For example, multiple types of sensors 140 can be used to monitor multiple parameters, multiple gas tanks can be employed, and valve 162 can be replaced by multiple individual valves each coupled to a respective sealed enclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of controller 150. Controller 150 includes a processor 200 that is programmed by input device 202 coupled to processor 200. Input device 202 may be an integrated part of controller 150, as shown in FIG. 13, or alternatively, it may be an external peripheral device electronically coupled to processor 200. In one embodiment, input device 202 may be a computer and keyboard that can receive high-level user instructions, compile such instructions into a desired data format, and then program processor 200. However, any well-known method and device can be used to program processor 200. Processor 200 receives information from sensor 140 and clock 204 and sends instructions to valves 130 and 190 (figure 11), for example. Note that, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, sensor 140 is integrated into controller 150, rather than being a separate device, and controller 150 is directly coupled to the valves. 130 and 190 which are coupled to the top cover 20 (figure 11). Valve 190 connects to flexible tube 192 from one or more gas tanks allowing gas to flow into the sealed enclosure. Valve 130 allows gas to flow from the sealed enclosure to sensor 140. Clock 204 and inlet device 202 are optional components of controller 150.

Logical processor 200 can be any device designed to receive and process information. In one embodiment, processor 200 is a conventional laptop computer that can be programmed, upgraded, semi-scheduled or rescheduled at will, including via the internet. Processor 200 makes choices based on instructions accumulated in the processor or programmed by a human operator. Processor 200 receives instructions from input device 202, which may be a conventional computer keyboard for example. Processor 200 further receives information from sensors 140 and clock 204. In another embodiment, processor 200 may be a type of mass-produced transistor-based microprocessor, such as a processor chip. These types of devices are well known and readily available on the market.

The input device 202 allows the human operator to modify the decisions made by the logical processor 200. In this way, the controller can be adjusted to meet the needs of different items. As discussed above, input device 202 can be any one of several well-known input devices such as a computer keyboard, a phone line, or a disk drive that can be programmed by processor 200.

Clock 204 can be any timing unit that is well known in the art. Usually, clock 204 is a digital timer in logical processor 200 that outputs an intermittent time signal. Alternatively, watch 204 can be any timing signal from an outside source. Clock 204 allows processor 200 to make decisions based on time.

Sensor 140 receives gas or atmosphere samples from the sealed enclosure and detects certain qualities. Such sensors are well known in the art and readily available on the market. Sensor type 140 may vary depending on the qualities to be measured. For example, sensor 140 may contain a thermometer to determine air temperature. Sensor 140 can also contain a barometer to check air pressure. Preferably, sensor 140 contains various chemical detectors to determine the composition of the gases introduced into the sealed enclosure. Such sensors are well known and therefore will not be further described herein. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, sensor 140 in controller 150 converts the results to digital signals that are sent to logical processor 200. A memory 206, coupled to processor 200, stores the data received from sensors 140 for further processing and / or analysis.

Processor 200 responds to information inputs from clock 204 and sensor 140 by sending digital commands to open and close valves 130 and 190. In one embodiment, valves 130 and 190 can control the flow of gas into and out of the sealed enclosure. respectively. Digitally and electronically controlled valves are well known. In one embodiment, processor 200 is also coupled to a peripheral device 208 which may be any one of several devices and / or circuits known in the art. In one embodiment, peripheral device 208 may be computer 154 (FIG. 11) connected to processor 200 through link 152 (FIG. 11). In another embodiment, the peripheral device may be a circuit to generate an audio and / or visual alarm if the data received from sensor 140 indicates that an atmospheric parameter is not within a predetermined range of a target programmed parameter on processor 200. Such circuits for generating an audio and / or visual alarm are well known in the art. Alternatively, the audio and / or visual alarm can be generated by computer 154 (FIG. 11) by sending an alarm signal from processor 200 to computer 154 via communications line 152 (FIG. 11).

In one embodiment, controller 150 is a modified atmosphere controller ("MA") that samples and introduces gases into the sealed enclosure until the desired atmosphere is achieved. Once the desired atmosphere is achieved, the MA controller is removed and the sealed enclosure is resealed and transported or stored. A flow chart illustrating the operation of one type of an MA controller, according to an embodiment of the invention, is shown in Figure 14. This MA controller fills the sealed enclosure with CO2 until the desired pressure levels are achieved. air and CO2 or the injection procedure time is running out.

In steps 210 and 230, a person enters conditions into the MA controller. As previously discussed, these settings can be programmed into the processor using any of numerous input devices and / or methods. The decrease pressure setting, step 210, defines the amount of air to be removed from the sealed enclosure.

In step 220, air is removed from the sealed enclosure until a sufficiently low pressure or decrease setpoint is achieved. Once the controller receives the desired new conditions in step 230, the controller opens the valves to the gas tanks containing the desired gases. The opening of the valves is the beginning of step 240 in which the desired atmosphere is introduced into the sealed enclosure. A sensor 140 (Figures 11 and 13) then begins to monitor the atmospheric conditions within the sealed enclosure by taking samples of the enclosed atmosphere. In steps 250 and 290, the sensor measures air pressure and CO2 levels and the measurements are compared to the desired levels in steps 260 and 300. If the desired levels are achieved, conditions 270 and 310 are satisfied, and disconnection is activated, step 330. If either or both conditions are not satisfied, steps 280 and / or 320 occur and the controller continues to fill the sealed enclosure.

In step 340 the elapsed time is determined, and in step 350 the elapsed time is compared with the desired time limit. If the elapsed time has not yet exceeded the programmed time limit, condition 360 is not met and the scale enclosure continues to fill up. If the programmed time limit is exceeded, then condition 360 is satisfied and step 380, disconnection occurred.

After disconnection by either step 330 or 380, step 390 performs a check for leaks or system problems. If there are leaks or other problems, in step 390 the human operator fixes the problem and the procedure returns to step 230 where the time, pressure and atmospheric setpoints are reset.

In another embodiment, a controlled atmosphere ("CA") controller sets the desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure, and then continues to sample and adjust the atmosphere during transport. Generally, the AC controller will maintain desired atmospheric conditions, but the controller can optionally be programmed to adjust the atmosphere during transport or refrigerated storage. For example, the atmosphere can be adjusted, as discussed above, to allow fruits to ripen as they approach the market. The controller can also be optionally programmed to fumigate the sealed enclosure during transport. The controller can intermittently add disinfectants or even toxic gases to eliminate pathogens in the sealed enclosure, but allowing the toxic gases to evacuate or dissipate before reaching the end of transport or the consumer with controlled storage.

The operation or procedure of an AC controller, according to an embodiment of the invention, is summarized in the flowchart of Fig. 15. The desired reference conditions or points are selected in step 400. The controller takes an atmosphere sample. from the sealed enclosure in step 410. In step 420, the controller compares the O2 levels to the benchmarks selected during step 400. If the O2 levels are low, the controller performs step 440 where Add ambient air to the sealed enclosure. Conversely, if the O2 levels are too high, at step 430 the controller adds N2 to the sealed enclosure. Once the desired O2 levels are achieved, in step 450, the controller then checks the CO2 levels. If the CO2 levels are low, in step 470 the controller adds CO2 to the sealed enclosure. If the CO2 levels are too high, at step 460 the controller adds N2 to the sealed enclosure. After either step 460 or step 470, the procedure repeats step 420 where the controller rechecks the O2 levels. If the controller measures acceptable levels of both O2 and CO2, the controller returns to step 410 to extract a new air sample for testing. The procedure may continue in time sequence for a predetermined length of time or indefinitely until the controller is disconnected from the sealed enclosure.

The operation or procedure performed by an AC controller according to another embodiment of the invention is summarized in the flowchart of Fig. 16. The desired conditions or reference points are selected in step 480. In step 490, the controller takes a sample of atmosphere from the sealed enclosure extracting the gases enclosed on the sensor. At step 500, the controller determines the O2 levels and, at step 510, compares the O2 levels to the benchmarks selected during step 480. If the O2 levels are low, then condition 20 is true, and step 530 occurs. In step 530, the controller opens a valve to add ambient air to the sealed enclosure. If the O2 levels are too high, condition 540 is true, and the controller responds in step 550 by adding N2 to the sealed enclosure. Once the desired O2 level is achieved, condition 560 is true, and the controller performs step 570 by closing the air valves attached to the sealed enclosure, thereby preventing the flow of any gas to / from the interior of the enclosure. .

While monitoring and maintaining O2 levels, the controller simultaneously checks and adjusts CO2 levels. In step 580, the controller determines the CO2 levels and in step 590 the controller compares the measured CO2 levels with desired benchmarks. If the CO2 levels are low, condition 600 is true, and in step 610, the controller opens the valve to the CO2 tanks for a predetermined amount of time, and then returns to step 580 to determine the level CO2. If the CO2 levels are high, condition 620 is true, and in step 630 the controller opens the valves to the N2 tanks (or sources) to allow N2 to enter the sealed enclosure. Once the desired CO2 levels are achieved, condition 640 is satisfied, at step 650 the controller closes the valves to the CO2 tanks and the N2 tanks (or sources).

A method is provided for creating a sealed enclosure around perishable agricultural products or other products stored on pallets, and for establishing and maintaining a modified atmosphere within the sealed pallet or container enclosure. An exemplary procedure includes the following steps, as illustrated and described in Figure 17.

Step 800: Provide the pallet. The pallet can be placed manually. Alternatively, the pallet can be mechanically positioned by a machine such as a forklift or mechanical arm.

Step 810: Place the base cover on the pallet. The base cap can be positioned manually or by a machine such as a forklift or mechanical arm. Figure 3 illustrates the base cover 10 located on the pallet 30. The base cover can:

be placed on the pallet (weight is later applied to the articles and held by the plastic film wrap);

glued, taped or attached to the pallet; me

Can be constructed with bottom locking tabs 4 (Figures 5-8) to fit securely between pallet boards to prevent base cover from moving during transit. Figure 4 shows a base cap with side flaps 12 that retain a bottom of the articles 40 placed on top of the base cap 10. In one embodiment, the flaps 12 can either fold down to cover part of the pallet or can fold up to cover part of the articles. The folded flaps 12 create a vertical surface on which a cover 90 (Figure 3) or wrap 80 (Figure 4) can be attached and sealed.

Step 820: Place the articles on the base cover. Items can be placed on the base cap and pallet manually by workers or by a worker with a pallet clamping device. Alternatively, a forklift or bridge crane or even an industrial robot can mechanically position the items. Similarly, the packaging materials can be placed around the articles. Items can also be glued, taped, or otherwise attached to the base cap. Again, this clamping procedure can be carried out manually or mechanically through a device such as an industrial robot.

Step 830: Placing the top lid on the containers or boxes of stacked items, as illustrated in Figure 4. A machine such as a forklift, crane, or industrial jib, as described above, can position the top lid manually. or mechanically. Figure 4 shows the top cover with side walls or fins 22. The flaps 22 can be folded down to cover a part of the upper article boxes. For example, a robotic arm can perform folding mechanically. After folding, the flaps 22 can be attached to the articles by glue, tape, or the like. The folded flaps 22 create a vertical surface on which to connect a wrap 80 (Figure 4).

Step 840: Apply wrap coverage. The wrap can be applied by rotating one or more rolls of wrap 80 (Figures 9 and 10) around the pallet assembly to create an enclosure around the articles together with the top and bottom covers. Figure 4 illustrates a preferred application of wrap 80, which includes overlapping the wrap over base cap 10 and top cap 20. However, wrap 80 can be applied using any one of numerous methods well known in the art. For example, the carrier could pour, spray, spin, etc., the cover over palletized items. Preferably, the application creates a smooth seal between the palletized articles and the cover. Alternatively, a worker can manually apply the wrap by walking around a pallet assembly while dispensing the wrap. Alternatively, the worker can spin the pallet assembly near a wrap dispenser. The wrapping machine described above with respect to Figures 9 and 10 can also apply the wrapping. Optionally after placement, the wrapper is attached to the lids and articles by various methods such as heating, gluing, zip-sealing and / or gluing of the wrapper to the top and base lids.

Step 850: Inject or establish the appropriate atmosphere in the sealed enclosure and, as required during the injection or dosing procedure, ventilate the sealed enclosure to allow for rapid and effective replacement of the atmosphere in the enclosure. The appropriate atmosphere can be achieved in the following ways:

In one embodiment, the method automatically measures and adjusts the CO2 and O2 levels within the enclosure using the controllers described above.

It is also possible to manually measure and adjust the amount of CO2 and N2 required within the room. Based on series of sample tests, a simple automated system based on a uniformly sized sealed enclosure can be established.

The required atmosphere can be calculated based on the pressures and the injection time, the volume of net space inside the enclosure, the needs of the product, etc., and can then be injected manually or through an automated system.

In another embodiment, the respiration of the product can create its own modified atmosphere within the sealed enclosure (when time, value and sensitivity of the product or other factors allow).

In another embodiment, a calculated amount of dry ice may be placed within the sealed enclosure to achieve the desired amount of CO2.

The methods described in options a through c require a human to connect the flexible tubes and valves to the sealed enclosure to introduce the desired gases. Such flexible tubes would interconnect the air tanks or external gas sources (CO2, N2, O3, 1-MCP, etc.) to the controller and the sealed enclosure. A controller can then be used to control gas emissions from the tanks (or sources) into the enclosures by automatically opening and closing the valves attached between the air tanks (or sources) and the enclosure.

Steps 810-850 above can be repeated to create separate enclosures on the same pallet. A new base cap 10, new items 40, and a new top cap 20 can be placed on a completed pallet assembly. Once the side wrap 80 has been applied, there are two separate internal enclosures on the same pallet.

Step 860: Apply the driver. A controller can monitor and regulate the atmosphere within the sealed enclosure by implementing one of the procedures illustrated in Figures 14-16, for example. Preferably, as discussed above, the controller has fittings that allow workers to snap to snap and separate hoses from the respective valves.

FIG. 18 illustrates an alternative pallet packaging method using a bag-like cover 90 (FIG. 3) instead of a top cap 20 and a side wrap 80. In this new method, steps 930 and 940 replace steps 830 and 840.

Step 930: Place the bag on the items. Figure 3 illustrates a cover 90 positioned over the articles 40. The cover 90 is installed by placing the open end on top of the loaded pallet. Cover 90 can be installed either manually or automatically by a machine that places the cover on the items.

Step 940: Seal the cover to the base cover. The open end of the cover is attached to the base cover by various techniques such as gluing or gluing. The glue or tape can be applied manually or can be applied by a machine that turns the pallets. Sealing of the sealed enclosure can be accomplished using a wide adhesive tape, adhesive strips, stretch film, adhesive plastic film (s), or adhesive sealant sprayed or applied between the plastic bag or film wrapper and lid or bottom film, or any other known method of creating an airtight enclosure. The introduction of the atmosphere (step 850) and the application of the controller (step 860) are carried out in a similar way to the steps described above with respect to figure 17. Therefore, the description of those steps will not be repeated here.

Fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating a manual stacking procedure in one embodiment. A bottom 1906 sheet is placed on an empty 1902 pallet. Products 1904 are stacked, for example, by hand, on top until the entire pallet is assembled. The bottom sheet 1906 is then taped up the side of the pallet on all four sides. Similarly, the 1908 top sheet is placed on top and taped down the side on all four sides. The pallet is transported, for example, with a forklift truck, and placed on a portable stretch wrap machine, such as that shown in Figure 20. Figure 20 illustrates a wrapping procedure in one embodiment for a full pallet, by Example, assembled according to the embodiment shown in Figure 19. Pallet 2004 is wrapped from the bottom of the pallet to the top and back to the bottom creating, for example, two layers of stretch wrap on the pallet. A stretch wrap machine 2002, for example, rolls the wrap material 2008 to wrap the pallet 2004. The pallet 2004 is then transported to a controller that automatically adjusts the atmosphere within the pallet as described above.

Figure 21 illustrates the pallet that is attached to a gas controller. A vacuum rod or sampling line 2106 is inserted between a layer of boxes near the bottom of the pallet. An injection wand 2110 is inserted between a layer of boxes near the top of the pallet. When rods 2106, 2108, 2110 are connected between controller 2102 and pallet 2104, controller 2102 can be enabled, for example, by pressing an "enable" button 2112.

The controller then applies a vacuum to the pallet 2104, through the rod 2106 until a negative pressure is reached. Vacuum is applied to pallet 2104 to ensure there are no leaks on the wrapped pallet 2104. When a negative pressure is reached, ensuring that there are no leaks, the injection cycle begins by injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) into the pallet 2104. In one embodiment, the vacuum remains connected to help "introduce" the CO2 into the pallet 2104 The sampling line 2108 connected between the pallet 2104 and the controller 2102 operates simultaneously, drawing the sample atmosphere out of the pallet 2104. The controller detects the CO2 levels on the pallet by reading the CO2 level in the sample.

This CO2 injection and sampling cycle continues until a desired CO2 level is reached within the pallet 2104. The desired CO2 level, for example, can be pre-set in the controller, for example, using an input functionality of controller touch screen. When the controller detects that the desired CO2 level has been reached, controller 2102 stops the cycle and displays the CO2 level on pallet 2104. Controller 2102 can also inform the operator, for example, via display 2114 or audio, that the cycle has completed successfully. The pipes 2106, 2108, 2110 are then removed and the remaining openings in the pallet 2104 where the pipes were inserted are closed. Pallet 2104 is prepared ready for shipment.

Figure 22 illustrates a semi-automatic procedure that packages products on a pallet and inserts a desired atmosphere within the pallet. A pallet 2202 of produce from the field is placed on an inlet conveyor 2204. Pallet 2202 is moved by conveyor 2204 and enters the upper / lower rolling section. Clamp arms 2206 swing down to snap in place and hold products 2202 while conveyor section 2204 lowers with pallet to create space for bottom sheet 2208 to snap into place. The conveyor is then raised again and the bottom sheet is cut, and the clamping arms release the pallet and swing back upward apart for the pallet to advance.

The leading edge of the bottom sheet may have an adhesive on it and there may be a mechanism that will go up to adhere the edge of the sheet to the pallet to prevent it from being caught in the machine as you proceed to the next row. There may be a tape application mechanism to tape the leading edge of the bottom sheet to the pallet before it advances to the next row to prevent it from being caught in the machine.

A topsheet is then inserted into place and cut. The pallet then advances to the wrapping station. Once the pallet is in the wrap station, a finger lift table rises from the bottom of the conveyor to hold the bottom sheet in place during the wrap cycle. Figures 23a and 23b illustrate the lift table with fingers. As shown in Fig. 23a, fingers 2302 on a lift table 2304 go up to hold sheet 2306 lower. You can also lower a top plate with your fingers to hold the top sheet in place during the wrap cycle.

The wrap cycle begins, for example, starting at the bottom of the pallet and progresses to the top of the pallet and back to the bottom, creating two layers of stretch wrap on the pallet. When the wrap cycle ends, the top plate is lifted by sliding your fingers out between the stretch wrap and pallet. The lower lift table also lowers when you remove your fingers.

The pallet then advances to the gasification station as shown in Figure 24. Figure 24 illustrates an example of a gasification station. Once at the station, an operator can insert the vacuum line 2402 and the pressure sensor / sampling line 2404 in between a layer of boxes near the bottom of the pallet. In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum line 2402 and the pressure sensor / sampling line 2404 are integrated together so that the operator inserts a line for vacuum application and sampling. For example, sampling line 2404 is located within vacuum line 2402. Alternatively, the vacuum line 2402 and the pressure sensor / sampling line 2404 are separate lines so that the user inserts both lines independently. An operator can also insert the injection line 2406 between a layer of boxes near the top of the pallet. In an exemplary embodiment, for a manual system and a semi-automated system, the injection line 2406 will have one or more other lines integrated therein to inject different gases, for example, CO2 and / or nitrogen and / or ozone. Alternatively, injection line 2406 does not include any other lines integrated into it.

Once the conduits or rods are in place, a 2410 controller can be hooked, for example, by pressing a "enable" button 2412 on the controller. The 2410 controller applies vacuum to the pallet until a negative pressure is reached. This is done to make sure there are no leaks on the wrapped pallet. Once a negative pressure is reached ensuring that there are no leaks, the injection cycle begins, injecting CO2 into the pallet. The vacuum remains connected to help introduce CO2 through the pallet to create a mixed atmosphere more quickly. The 2404 sampling / pressure sensor line also works simultaneously to read CO2 levels on the pallet in real time. The cycle continues until the CO2 level reaches the desired level. This desired level may have been previously established, for example, by using a touch screen 2414 on controller 2410. Controller 2410 then stops, visually displays the CO2 level on pallet 2408, and informs the operator of a satisfactory cycle. . The operator can then remove the lines 2402, 2404, 2406 and put adhesive tapes over the holes. The operator then advances the pallet onto the outfeed conveyor where it is picked up by a forklift and ready for shipment.

Figure 25 illustrates an automated procedure for wrapping and inserting the desired amount of gas into a I peeled before the pallet is ready to ship. The pallet 2502 of products from the field is placed on the input conveyor 2504. The pallet is moved by the conveyor and enters the upper / lower rolling section. Clamp arms 2506 swing down to hold products in place while conveyor section 2504 lowers with pallet to create space for bottom sheet 2508 to snap into place. The clamping arms 2506, for example, are mechanical or robotic arms. The conveyor 2504 is then raised again and the bottom sheet 2508 is cut off, and the clamping arms 2506 release the pallet 2502 and swing back upwards apart for the pallet to advance.

The leading edge of the bottom sheet may have an adhesive on it and there may be a mechanism that will go up to adhere the edge of the sheet to the pallet to prevent it from being caught in the machine as you proceed to the next row. There may be a tape application mechanism to tape the leading edge of the bottom sheet to the pallet before it advances to the next row to prevent it from being caught in the machine. Similarly, a topsheet is then inserted into place and cut.

The pallet then advances to the wrapping station. Figure 26 illustrates a wrapping station 2600 in one embodiment. Figures 27a and 27b illustrate a finger lift table for holding a pallet in place. As shown in Figures 27a and 27b, once the pallet 2702 is in the wrapping station 2600 (Figure 26), a finger lift table 2706 rises from the bottom of the conveyor to keep the bottom sheet 2710 in its place during the wrap cycle. Also lower a top plate with your fingers to hold the top sheet in place during the wrap cycle. The wrap cycle begins, for example, starting at the bottom of the pallet and progresses to the top of the pallet and back to the bottom, creating two layers of stretch wrap on the pallet. Some or all of the fingers 2706 are hollow tubes and may be equipped with lines 2708. In an exemplary embodiment, lines 2708 are one or more lines, such as vacuum lines, sampling, pressure sensor and / or injection. Injection lines may or may not be integrated for a fully automated system. The injection lines can be joined to inject through a single finger or they can be separated to inject through different fingers. One or more gases can be injected, for example three gases can be injected through the finger (s). Additionally, the vacuum line / lines, sampling and / or pressure sensor may or may not be integrated. The line / lines can be joined to apply vacuum, take samples and / or detect through a single finger or to apply vacuum, take samples and / or detect through different fingers. Fingers 2706 remain on the shell. Once the cycle is complete, a controller starts the gas cycle.

In one embodiment, a controller applies vacuum to the pallet until a negative pressure is reached. This is done to make sure there are no leaks on the wrapped pallet. Once a negative pressure is reached ensuring that there are no leaks, the injection cycle begins, injecting CO2 into the pallet. The vacuum remains connected to help introduce CO2 through the pallet to create a mixed atmosphere more quickly. The sampling line works simultaneously to read the CO2 levels on the pallet in real time. The cycle continues until the desired CO2 or gas levels are reached. This desired level, for example, may have been previously set, for example, using a touch screen on the controllers. When the gas cycle is complete, the top plate and lift table move apart to slide your fingers out between the shell and pallet as shown in Figure 27b. Additional final wraps or sealing can be completed as required. The pallet then advances to the exit conveyor to be picked up by a forklift.

Figures 28a and 28b illustrate a wrapping procedure for one or more products stacked on a pallet in one embodiment. A bottom 2804 sheet is placed on the 2802 pallet by using either a forklift truck with squeeze fittings to lift the product from the pallet to slide the sheet into place, or the sheet can be placed on the pallet in the field before "Assemble" or stack with products. The bottom sheet 2804 is then taped in place. Quick connect hose fittings 2806 adhere in place on pallet 2802. As shown in Figure 28b, a pallet bag 2808 can be placed on the pallet, taped in line with the pallet 2802, and tape it to the bottom sheet. A cardboard tie wrap can also be placed on top of the pallet.

In one embodiment, the pallet is placed on the stretch wrap machine and wrapped, for example, from the bottom of the pallet, to the top of the pallet, and back to the bottom. Figure 29a illustrates a pallet 2902 having a wrap and a bag. This double wrap results in a secure and stable shipping pallet. This second layer also ensures an airtight seal around the pallet. The second layer of wrap around the pallet allows for a stiffer deck and helps ensure uniformity of the desired air flow equally to all pallets.

In another embodiment, a wrap enclosure can be used without a bag. Figure 29b illustrates a 2904 pallet with wraps. This wrap may include a top sheet and a bottom sheet, for example a stretch wrap that has adhesive properties for adhering to the top sheet and bottom sheet for an airtight seal.

Depending on the products to be packaged, different types of bags and film wraps can be used. For example, there are casings that do not allow any gas transmission through a film. These types of film are known as barrier films. Barrier films do not allow CO2 to exit or O2 to enter.

Other casings have a microporous membrane. For example, some products on a pallet can use O2 and emit CO2, causing gas levels to drop out in an acceptable range when not connected to a control system. The microporous film allows CO2 and O2 to pass through at a specified exchange rate to maintain a proper atmosphere.

The present automatic and continuous monitoring system eliminates the hassle of trying to figure out what plastic wrap or bag to use for proper gas exchange. It also allows different respiration rates of the enclosed product, and the impact of temperature, because it continuously monitors and adjusts the atmosphere to maintain the desired set point of the atmosphere.

Once the pallet is wrapped, the pallet is transferred to a collector system. Figure 30 illustrates a pallet 3002 wrapped in a manifold system that is connected to flexible injection tubes. Small incisions are made in the enclosure in the quick connect flexible tube fitting elements 3004a, 3004b to allow flexible tubes 3006a, 3006b to be attached.

Figure 31 illustrates a part of a manifold having a pressure relief valve. Flexible tubes 3106a, 3106b are connected to manifold 3100 and the gas level can be set in a controller. The controller is then enabled to begin regulating the atmosphere. A pressure relief valve 3102 on manifold 3100 prevents pallets or equipment from being subjected to excessive pressure. Valve 3102 maintains, for example, one to two pounds of positive pressure in manifold 3100 to ensure that fresh air does not leak.

Figure 32a illustrates a multi-zone controller 3202. Figure 32b illustrates a single zone controller 3204. In one aspect, a single zone controller 3204 is used to control a collector, and is adjusted to an atmosphere setting. Similarly, a multi-zone controller 3202 can be used that controls multiple collectors, each with a different atmosphere. The 3202 multi-zone controller can be modular and can include any desired number of manifold and pallet combinations, resulting in control of many different atmosphere configurations.

A single zone 3204 controller can include an O2 analyzer / sensor, a CO2 analyzer / sensor, a sample pump, an N2 solenoid, a CO2 solenoid, a fresh air pump with solenoid. The setting can be adjusted by rotating "pots" or potentiometers on the front of the two analyzers. For example, clockwise rotation increases the desired percentage and counterclockwise rotation decreases the percentage. In one embodiment, there are three flowmeter for 3 individual gases, eg nitrogen, carbon dioxide and fresh air.

The multi-zone controller 3202 may include one or more O2 analyzers / sensors, one or more CO2 analyzers / sensors, one or more sample pumps, one or more N2 solenoids, one or more CO2 solenoids, one or more fresh air with solenoid. The parameters, in one embodiment, can be adjusted by touch screen software. The gas percentage for each of the zones can be selected by entering the desired amount.

Multiple solenoids can also be attached to the three main solenoids for each of the zones. One or more main solenoids may open along one or more of the zone solenoids, depending on the gas required. The 3202 multi-zone controller may also include a modem connected to a personal computer ("PC"). The PC can be located, for example, locally or remotely. Consequently, gas levels can be checked and adjusted, zones can be disconnected or connected from any laptop or desktop located anywhere. For example, a user can be given a name and password to allow the user to log into the controller. In this way, a user who has authorization can monitor and change the atmosphere as desired.

Figures 33a-d illustrate a plurality of wrapped pallets connected to a plurality of manifolds 3304 of a manifold system. In this example, the collector system is made up of at least two different sections: a blower section and an additional section. Each section consists of at least two pallet locations. The blower section incorporates a centrifugal blower or fan to force air through the rest of the manifold sections. The blower section also includes at least the gas injection points and gas sample points. Flexible 3310 tubes are used, for example, for injection and sampling. In an exemplary embodiment, the additional section has no fan or injection / sampling point. Instead, the additional section connects to the blower section to expand the pallet capacity of manifold systems. When the collector system has enough additional sections to meet customer needs, an end cap is then connected to the last section to make the collector system airtight.

As shown in Figure 33a-d, pallets 3302 having packaged products are connected through flexible tubes 3310 to manifolds 3304. A controller 3308 controls the amount of gas within the packaged pallets by controlling the amount of gas released from a gas tank 3306 through the manifolds 3304. As described and shown, the manifolds can be mounted in modular sections.

In an alternative embodiment of the present application, vacuum application, injection, and sampling are performed as follows. A controller-controlled vacuum source applies vacuum to a pallet until a negative pressure is reached to determine at least if there is any leakage from the wrapped pallet. Once a negative pressure is reached indicating that there is no leak, an injection cycle begins, injecting ozone (O3) and nitrogen (N2). The vacuum remains connected to help introduce O3 through the pallet and N2 is used as a carrier for O3 and to lower the oxygen (O2) level. Once the disinfectant exposure level is reached, the O3 is turned off. In an exemplary embodiment, it is a combination of ppm O3 over a set amount of time. Alternatively, however, it could be a measured volume and a detected amount of O3. Then carbon dioxide (CO2) is injected. N2 continues to inject and the vacuum continues to push gases through the pallet to create a mixed atmosphere more quickly. A sampling line also works simultaneously to read CO2 and O2 levels on the pallet in real time. The cycle continues until a CO2 level and an O2 level are reached. In an exemplary embodiment, the CO2 level and the O2 level have been previously established using a touch screen associated with the controller.

Alternatively, the disinfectant (O3) is an option and can be chosen to be injected or not depending on the needs of the product. Also, depending on the system, when the cycle is complete, an employee can remove the flexible tubes from the pallet or the fingers will be removed automatically. The pallet can then be moved to the next row to be picked up and shipped. The alternative embodiment described above for injecting, applying vacuum and / or taking samples is applicable to each of the exemplary embodiments described in the present application.

In alternative exemplary embodiments of the present application, the methods and systems that can be operated to provide a regulated atmosphere, as described above, can be used in conjunction with systems and methods that can be operated to introduce substances into the zone enclosed containing products such as perishable and / or fresh products, to facilitate the infusion of substances in the products. Substance introduction and / or infusion operations can be performed in association with a cold pasteurization method. Such operations of introduction and / or infusion of substances can be performed to increase the efficiency of application and / or absorption of the substance or substances introduced into the products.

The methods and systems for introducing infusion and / or substances can be used in conjunction with the methods and systems described above. The introduction of substances can be performed in conjunction with the sealed enclosures of the present application, as described above and including individual consumer packages, or in conjunction with tube, container, chamber, and the like cooling systems. Sealed enclosures, tube refrigeration systems, containers, chambers, and the like can be transportable or can be stationary and fixed in place.

Infusion systems and methods can be used in conjunction with vacuum refrigeration techniques. In a vacuum refrigeration technique, products, such as perishable and / or fresh agricultural products, can be placed inside a container or rigid granda sealed chamber. The container or chamber may include, for example, a sealed door and / or gate that can be sealed to provide an airtight enclosure within the container or chamber. The container or chamber may be constructed of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material, including for example metal, composite material, carbon fiber, plastic, glass, or any other material that allows pressure or vacuum regulation within an enclosed space.

As one skilled in the art will understand, the term "pressure" as used herein can generally refer to an air pressure, and can have a value that is positive or negative. The term "positive pressure" is intended to refer to a pressure value greater than atmospheric pressure, such as that resulting for example when air is pumped into a sealed volume, while "negative pressure" is intended to describe a pressure value less than atmospheric pressure, such as that resulting for example when air is evacuated from a sealed volume. The terms "pressure" and "vacuum" can be used alternatively, and can refer to their commonly understood meanings.

For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the rigid container may additionally be connected to a vacuum pump system, a temperature monitoring and control system, indicators that can be operated to measure a pressure within the container or chamber , a fluid evacuation system for removing evaporated fluid from products, vents and associated valves that can be operated to control the movement of air and fluid from the container or chamber, and a system fluid introduction to apply fluid to products. The vacuum pump system can include at least one motor, at least one pump, and various air lines that can be operated to connect the vacuum pump system to the container or chamber.

After placing the products in the container or chamber, much or most of the air in the chamber can be evacuated through the use of the vacuum pump system, thereby creating a negative pressure or vacuum state within the container or chamber. camera. The vacuum causes the water to evaporate quickly from the surface of the products, thereby lowering its temperature. Such vacuum refrigeration techniques can be particularly effective on products that have a high surface area to volume ratio, such as leafy greens and lettuce, and products that have overlapping surfaces that may be difficult or impossible to effectively refrigerate with other conventional cooling techniques, such as forced air or hydrocooling techniques.

In an exemplary embodiment, refrigeration may be effected as described above through evaporation of the fluid overlying the products at the time of their placement in the container or chamber. Alternatively, additional fluid, such as water, can be applied to the products before the pressure change, to increase the cooling effect. Such fluid application can occur prior to operation of the vacuum system, or can be performed between successive cycles of operation of the vacuum system.

In an exemplary embodiment, such a vacuum cooling method can be used in conjunction with the various exemplary sealed enclosures of the present application, as described above. For example, in the embodiment as shown in Figure 11, a sealed enclosure can be coupled to at least one sensor 140 that can receive samples from the sealed enclosure, through flexible tube 145 coupled to a valve 130 located in the top 20 cap. A controller 150 can receive data from sensors 140, and then take corrective or response action. Controller 150 can be coupled to an automatic valve 160 that can be coupled to a gas tank 170, which can be operated to allow gas from tank 170 to flow through flexible tube 180 into the sealed enclosure through a second valve 190 coupled to the top cover 20. A third valve 132 may be coupled to the top cover 20 to evacuate the internal area surrounded by the sealed enclosure. A pressure switch 135 can be coupled to the third valve 132, and can be operated to measure the pressure within the sealed enclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, a computer 154 can be connected to controller 150 through a communication link 152, and can be used to program controller 150.

For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the internal area surrounded by the sealed enclosure may be evacuated through the third valve 132, and the amount and duration of the vacuum or negative pressure produced within the area surrounded by the sealed enclosure may controlled by controller 150 and computer 154.

As one skilled in the art will understand, in alternative exemplary embodiments, the components and systems described above with respect to the sealed enclosure can be used in conjunction with sealed rigid chambers or containers. Additionally, the components and systems described above with respect to the sealed enclosure may be used in conjunction with multiple sealed enclosures in a series, as in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 12, and / or in conjunction with a series of sealed chambers or vessels. rigid. Additionally, vacuum cooling and / or substance introduction procedures can be performed using a Venturi supply system. Additionally, the components and systems described above with respect to the sealed enclosure can be used in conjunction with individual consumer packages including, for example, pre-packaged perishable food products enclosed in, for example, permeable, semi-permeable, or impermeable film material.

In an exemplary embodiment, a rigid container and / or chamber system can be used, as shown in Figure 34. A rigid container 3402 can be connected to a gas source 3410, a sensor 3404, and a pump 3412. A controller 3406, for example a programmable logic controller, can receive data from sensors 3404. Air can be evacuated and / or introduced into the container by pump 3412 or by valve 3414. An optional computer 3408 can be connected to controller 3406 through of a 3416 communication link.

Various substances may be introduced into the area surrounded by the sealed chamber and / or the sealed chambers or rigid containers at any point before, during or after the performance of the vacuum refrigeration procedure described above or the change in pressure within the sealed chamber . The substance may include any suitable substance that can be operated to improve the value, safety, shelf life, flavor, consumer and marketing capacity of the products.

The substance may include, for example, a disinfecting substance, a flavoring substance, a preservative substance, a food additive substance, a coating substance, a sealing substance, a essence and / or substance of essential oil, a mineral substance, a vitamin substance, a biological substance, and other substances. The disinfecting substance may be in the form of a gas, a liquid, or a vaporized liquid, and may include, for example, ozone, nitrous oxide, inert gases, chlorine in all its forms, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, nitrate compounds and nitrite, iodine, benzoates, propionates, nisin, sulfates, and sorbates or any other suitable gas or gas disinfectant. The flavoring substance may include any flavoring that may be suitable for application to and / or infusion in the products.

Additionally, the substance may include one or more of coloring substances, food grade acidic substances, mineral salt and / or mineral salt solutions, nutritional additives, sweeteners, flavor enhancers, and the like. Extracts, essences, and / or essential oil substances may be in the form of a gas, a liquid, or a vaporized liquid, and may include, for example, fruit essential oils (for example, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranates, grapes, lemons, grapefruits, oranges, other citrus, cherries, and the like), vegetables, flowers, and other perishable food products, include, for example, but not limited to, mint, cloves, green tea, rose hips, hibiscus, cocoa. An essence substance can possess to a high degree the predominant qualities of a natural product (such as a plant or a drug) from which it is extracted (such as by infusion or steam distillation). An essential oil substance may include a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aromatic compounds from the plant or product from which it was extracted. An essential oil essence and / or substance can be collected from the distillate from the processing of fruit products and can have antimicrobial and / or antifungal properties. An exemplary essential oil may include thyme oil (thymol; 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, IPMP). The mineral substance can be in the form of a gas, a powder, a liquid, a fluidized compound, a vaporized liquid. The vitamin substance may be in the form of a gas, a powder, a liquid, a fluidized compound, or a vaporized liquid, and may include, for example, but not limited to, thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin, niacinamide, folate or folic acid, beta carotene, potassium iodide, iron or ferrous sulfate, alpha-tocopherols, ascorbic acid, vitamin D, amino acids (L-tryptophan, L-lysine, L-leucine, L-methionine) or any other substance Vitamin in gas, powder, liquid or vaporized liquid suitable. The biological substance can be in the form of a gas, powder, micro or nanoparticle, a fluidized compound, a liquid, or a vaporized liquid, and can include, for example, probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, or any other biological substance in gas, liquid, or suitable vaporized liquid. Probiotics can include live microorganisms that can confer a health benefit on the host when consumed such as, for example, naturally occurring organisms or "harmless organisms" that are biologically active against pathogenic and decomposing organisms. According to one embodiment, the biological substance can be added to the sealed enclosure, for example, after a sanitization cycle / sequence has occurred or as part of a separate treatment and can provide benefits, for example, by displacing harmful organisms on the surface of perishable products and / or providing antimicrobial and antifungal properties. The substance may include, for example, but is not limited to, one or more calcium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ascorbic acid, citric acid, sodium benzoate, calcium propionate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite, calcium sorbate, Potassium Sorbate, BHA, BHT, EDTA, Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Citrus Red # 2, Anatean Extract, Beta Carotene, Grape Skin Extract, Cochineal or Carmine Extract, Paprika Scent, Caramel Juice fruit and vegetables, saffron, complementary contributions, phages, electrostatically charged particles, or any other substance in gas, liquid, powder, fluidized compound or suitable vaporized liquid. The application of electrostatically charged particles to a product within the sealed enclosure may be applicable to a perishable food product or a hybrid seed. Spraying and / or electrostatic coating is defined herein as a manufacturing process that applies charged particles, for example, powdered particles or an atomized liquid, to a workpiece such as, for example, a perishable food product. or a hybrid seed.

Alternatively or additionally, substances such as water and / or another suitable liquid may be additionally introduced, either as an introduced substance or in addition to a vaporized liquid and / or gaseous introduced substance, for example to regulate the water content of the product or to increase the cooling efficiency and / or introduction of substances.

In one embodiment, substances can be added or injected into an enclosure without monitoring or adjusting the enclosed atmosphere. The added, injected, or dosed substances may include, for example, foams, gels, or encapsulated material that have sustained release or other valuable properties administered in a sealed enclosure to produce benefits in the product therein. A substance treatment may include adding a substance to the interior of the sealed enclosure and may be an improvement to the modified or controlled atmosphere by modifying pressure, temperature, or other environmental factors that can be controlled by the 3406 controller. The value of a treatment Substance can be enhanced when a product is treated in a sealed room and substance treatment is combined with, or made more effective by, a regulated environment, a modified atmosphere, and / or a controlled atmosphere. To ensure consistent protection, preservation and / or improvement of products, the 3406 controller can be used for substance treatment in combination with target parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions. Substance treatments can occur at different times (eg, before, during, or after modified atmosphere / controlled atmosphere techniques) and can provide different ways to preserve, protect, and / or enhance a perishable product. For example, products can be pretreated with one or more substances before placing the products in a sealed enclosure and then the pre-treated substances may be activated (or affect the product treated with the one or more substances) as a result of the atmosphere, pressure, or other manipulation controlled by the controller 3406 while the product is in the sealed enclosure. In one embodiment, controller 3406, when used in conjunction with added substance treatments, can continue to monitor and / or adjust additional substance treatments within the enclosure. In one embodiment, the sealed enclosure (for example, a pallet with items stacked on the pallet and a bag covering the pallet of items, an appliance with a cooling tube, a rigid chamber, a shipping unit, and / or a container) It may include substance treatments and forced air cooling, a pressure cooling apparatus, humidity control, and / or atmospheric control (eg, gas levels and pressure levels).

Alternatively or additionally, substance treatments can be applied directly to one or more products before placing the product in a sealed enclosure. These pretreatment treatments can include, for example, applications of substances sprayed directly on the product or added to washes or dips so that the one or more applied substances adhere, coat or absorb into the one or more products. , and when the pretreated products are placed in the sealed enclosure, the one or more substances can be activated (once enclosed) using options such as pressure, electric or electrostatic charge, UV light (or other forms of light) and / or sound waves directed. Other examples include thermal or chemical reactions with other substance (s), gas treatments, various reagents, and / or other additives that can be used or introduced to act as a catalyst or as a complementary treatment to enhance the result of treatment with substances . Similarly, packaging materials can be pretreated with substances and then used as part of a consumer unit, a main shipping unit and / or to form the sealed enclosure itself. These pretreated packaging materials can then be activated (as discussed above) within the sealed enclosure.

Alternatively or additionally, treatments with substances applied to the environment, atmosphere and / or product (s) within the sealed enclosure, may include, but are not limited to, a foam, gel, powder and / or an encapsulated substance Manufactured with physical, chemical, thermal and / or prolonged release properties that can benefit one or more products within the sealed enclosure. The introduction of a foam or gel, for example, can be injected or brought into the sealed enclosure through gas and / or pressurized air. Alternatively, the components required to obtain the foam can be combined within the enclosure to optimize the process and / or maximize the benefits for the product within the enclosure.

Alternatively or additionally, another technique for introducing at least one substance may include locating at least one product within a sealed enclosure, the sealed enclosure may have one or more conduits through which one of gas and / or fluid may flow into the interior or outside the sealed enclosure. Air can be evacuated from the sealed enclosure through the one or more ducts to create a predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure. A predetermined amount of the at least one substance can be injected into the sealed enclosure through the one or more conduits. In one embodiment, the injection and / or application of one or more substances and / or substance treatments can be controlled by controller 3406 using the same or similar techniques as during the creation of a modified or controlled atmosphere.

In one embodiment, a technique can be provided to deliver a desired substance treatment within a sealed enclosure either before, or during and / or after creating a modified or controlled atmosphere, where at least one product is disposed within the sealed enclosure. . The technique may include regulating the components of the air (eg, gas levels) and / or pressure (eg, levels) within the sealed enclosure through at least one conduit to create a first level or predetermined gas pressure within the sealed enclosure, where air pressure or components can be controlled by the 3406 controller programmed with target parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions to provide a desired substance treatment in combination with the desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure. Additionally, the injection, dosing and / or addition of a predetermined or predetermined quantity of at least one substance in the sealed chamber can be carried out through the at least one conduit, in which the injection or addition of the substance can be controlled by controller 3406 according to objective parameters, reference points and / or operating instructions. Additional monitoring of the atmosphere, substance, pressure level and / or other parameters within the sealed enclosure may or may not be required by taking samples of the atmosphere (pressure or substance) and comparing at least one parameter from which samples have been taken with the parameters objective, benchmarks and / or operating instructions, to obtain effective substance treatment of perishable products contained within the premises. An additional benefit can be obtained by maintaining and / or adjusting the substance (quantity), pressure, gas level (s) in the atmosphere and / or environmental conditions within the sealed enclosure based on monitoring, where maintenance and / or adjustment of the substance, atmosphere, environment or pressure can be controlled by controller 3406 according to objective parameters, set points and / or operating instructions.

Alternatively or additionally, controlled substance treatments may also be added to a sealed enclosure even though the procedure for creating that enclosure or modified atmosphere differs from the techniques described herein. Substance treatments can be optimized for the product and the application of the substance provided. Injection, introduction and / or dosage can be controlled by the 3406 controller according to target parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions. The described substance treatments can be applied by programming the 3406 controller and scaling the equipment to inject or add the substance to correspond to the needs of the product, as well as the size, shape of the enclosure and / or the material used to create the sealed enclosure.

Any of the elements coupled to the sealed enclosure that may allow gas and / or fluid to pass into the sealed enclosure can be used to introduce the one or more substances into the area surrounded by the sealed enclosure. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 11, for example, such elements may include valve 130, second valve 190 that can be coupled to top cap 20 and connected to flexible tube 180 and / or third valve 132 coupled to the top cover 20.

In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum cooling method as described above can be performed any number of times, and the amount of vacuum and / or pressure, and the duration of vacuum and / or pressure maintenance can be varied. For example, the pressure within the area surrounded by the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber may be cycled, within any suitable combination of vacuum, positive pressure, and atmospheric pressure. Substances can be introduced at any point in any one or more of the cycles. The substances can be introduced, for example, through one or more of the valves and / or flexible tubes described above. The amounts and compositions of the introduced substances can be controlled through any of the sensors, controllers and / or computers described above. The substances can be introduced either in conjunction with one or more vacuum cooling operations, or independently of the performance of the vacuum cooling operations.

In an exemplary embodiment, more than one substance can be introduced, and the various substances can be introduced serially or simultaneously. Additionally, different substances can be introduced under different conditions, such as a first substance that is introduced in a first amount of vacuum and for a first duration, while a second substance can be introduced in a second amount of vacuum and during a second duration. Part of the substances can be evacuated from the area surrounded by the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber after introduction, or the substances can be allowed to remain within the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber.

In an exemplary embodiment, the pressure and / or vacuum within the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber may be cycled. Additionally, the pressure within the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber can be raised to any value above atmospheric pressure. The introduced substance (s) may be introduced under vacuum, increased pressure or atmospheric pressure conditions, in any suitable concentration and for any suitable duration.

For example, in an exemplary embodiment, pressure within the area surrounded by the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber may be modified by a "knock" procedure. In a blow procedure, for example, the pressure within the area surrounded by the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber can be reduced to a predetermined value, and maintained at that predetermined value for a predetermined period of time. The pressure can then be increased, for example by allowing air to enter the area surrounded by the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber, until the internal pressure reaches a second predetermined value, and can be maintained at the second predetermined value. for a second predetermined period of time. During the increase in pressure by allowing air to enter the sealed area, the one or more substances may be introduced. This modification of pressure, with or without the introduction of the substance during the operation in which the entry of air is allowed, can be repeated any number of times, using any suitable value for the predetermined pressures and time periods. Alternatively, the pressure within the area surrounded by the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber may be cycled without maintaining the pressure for one or more predetermined time periods. The concentrations and / or quantities of the introduced substance (s) can be varied, for example based on the composition and / or characteristic of the product located within the area surrounded by the sealed enclosure and / or the container or chamber.

In an exemplary embodiment, vacuum cooling and / or introduction of substances as described above can be performed at the time of product packaging. Alternatively, vacuum cooling and / or the introduction of substances can be carried out during the loading, unloading, transport, shipping or storage of the product.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to form a new embodiment. Additionally, the individual characteristics of the various embodiments described above can be combined to form a new independent embodiment.

The invention described above provides an improved method and apparatus for transporting perishable and / or atmosphere sensitive items. Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described above as examples, it will be appreciated that variations of the details can be made without departing. of the scope of the claims. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other embodiments than those disclosed, all of which are presented in this description for purposes of illustration and not limitation. It is indicated that equivalents of the particular embodiments discussed in this description can also practice the invention. Therefore, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description of preferred examples when evaluating the scope of the invention in which exclusive rights are claimed.

Claims (16)

1. A method of providing a desired atmosphere within a sealed enclosure, wherein at least one product is disposed within the sealed enclosure, the method comprising: evacuating air from the sealed enclosure through at least one duct to create a predetermined first pressure within the sealed enclosure, where the evacuation is controlled by a controller programmed with target parameters, setpoints, and / or operating instructions to provide a desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure; injecting gas into the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit to create an atmosphere with a second predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure, in which the injection of the gas is controlled by the controller according to the target parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions; regulating gas levels and / or pressure levels within the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit to regulate the atmosphere to a predetermined gas level and / or a predetermined pressure level within the sealed enclosure, wherein the Gas levels and / or pressure levels are controlled by the controller programmed with one or more target parameters, setpoints, and / or operating instructions to provide a substance treatment in combination with the desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure; and being characterized by: applying a predetermined amount of at least one substance in addition to the atmosphere in the sealed enclosure to the at least one product, wherein the application of the at least one substance is controlled by the controller according to the target parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions and the at least one substance coats, is absorbed in, or infused into the at least one product. 2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising: enhancing the at least one applied substance by injecting one of the at least a second substance, a gas treatment, a reagent, or an additive into the sealed enclosure. 3. Method according to claim 1, further comprising: treating one or more packaging materials with the at least one substance before disposing the at least one product in the sealed enclosure, wherein the one or more packaging materials are used as part of a consumer unit, a unit of main shipment or to form the sealed enclosure; and activating the one or more packaging materials treated with the at least one substance using pressure, electric or electrostatic charge, light or sound waves. The method of claim 1, wherein the evacuation facilitates the coating of, absorption into, or infusion into the at least one product by the at least one substance; or wherein the at least one substance is applied to the at least one product before arranging the at least one product in the sealed enclosure. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: monitor the atmosphere within the sealed enclosure by taking samples of the atmosphere and comparing at least one parameter from which samples have been taken with the objective parameters, reference points and / or operating instructions; and maintaining and / or adjusting the atmosphere within the sealed enclosure based on monitoring, in which the maintenance and / or adjustment of the atmosphere is controlled by the controller according to objective parameters, reference points and / or operating instructions. 6. Method according to claim 5, further comprising: injecting a second predetermined quantity of the at least one substance into the sealed chamber through the at least one conduit, wherein the injection of the second predetermined quantity of the at least one substance is controlled by the controller according to the target parameters, points for reference and / or operating instructions. 7. Method according to claim 6, further comprising: maintain the first predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure for a predetermined first period of time, wherein the maintenance of the predetermined pressure is controlled by the controller according to objective parameters, reference points and / or operating instructions; and maintaining the second predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure for a second predetermined period of time, wherein the maintenance of the second predetermined pressure is controlled by the controller according to the target parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions. 8. Method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing the sealed enclosure comprising at least one of: a pallet with articles stacked on the pallet including a bag covering the article pallet, a refrigerated tube apparatus, a rigid chamber, a shipping unit, or a container. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of introducing the substance together with sealed enclosures including individual consumer packages. 10. A method of providing a desired substance treatment within a sealed enclosure either before, or during or after creating a modified or controlled atmosphere, wherein at least one product is disposed within the sealed enclosure, the method comprising: regulating gas levels and / or pressure levels within the sealed enclosure through at least one conduit to create an atmosphere with a predetermined first gas level and / or a predetermined first pressure level within the sealed enclosure, in the that gas levels and / or pressure levels are controlled by a controller programmed with one or more target parameters, setpoints, and / or operating instructions to provide substance treatment in combination with the desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure ; and being characterized by: dosing and / or adding a predetermined quantity of at least one substance in addition to the gas to the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit, in which the addition of the substance is controlled by the controller according to the objective parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions, in which the at least one substance coats, is absorbed in, or infused into the at least one product. 11. Method according to claim 10, further comprising: monitoring the atmosphere, the at least one substance, pressure levels, or gas levels within the sealed enclosure by taking samples from the atmosphere and comparing at least one parameter from which samples have been taken with the target parameters, benchmarks, and / or operating instructions. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: maintaining and / or adjusting at least one of an amount of the at least one substance, pressure levels, gas levels and / or environmental conditions within the sealed enclosure based on monitoring, in which maintenance and / or Adjustment is controlled by the controller according to target parameters, setpoints and / or operating instructions. 13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: activate the at least one substance using pressure, electric or electrostatic charge, light or sound waves. The method according to claim 1 or claim 10, wherein the at least one substance comprises at least one of physical, chemical, thermal or prolonged release properties that produce benefit in the at least one product within the sealed enclosure. 15. The method according to claim 1 or claim 10, wherein the at least one substance is at least one of a foam, a gel, an encapsulated material, a powder, a micro or nanoparticle, a fluidized compound, a vaporized liquid , a food grade acid, a mineral salt, a mineral salt solution, a nutritional additive, a sweetener, a flavor enhancer, a disinfectant, a flavoring substance, a food additive substance, a coating substance, a substance dye, a nutritional substance, a sealing substance, a mineral substance, a vitamin substance, an essential oil essence and / or substance, a biological substance, a probiotic, or a substance that contains at least one chlorine, hydrogen peroxide , nitrous oxide, peracetic acid, nitrite, nitrate compound, iodine, benzoate, propionate, nisin, sulfate, sorbate, or thymol. 16. The method according to claim 1 or claim 10, further comprising: combining within the enclosure one or more components required to obtain the at least one substance. Ċ