Ripening/Storage Room with Reversible Air Flow

Abstract

The invention relates to a ripening and/or storage room for produce, including fruit and/or vegetables, more particularly for bananas, and a method for storing and ripening such produce. The invention relates to the construction of said ripening and/or storage room to achieve substantially symmetrical distribution of the heat across the load stacked in room space during ripening/store periods using reversible air flow through the room.

1 . A storage/ripening unit comprising:
 (a) a storage/ripening room; and   (b) an air management unit comprising an air cooler comprising at least one fan and at least one heat exchanger;   said storage/ripening room being operably connected to said air management unit via at least two operational openings;   wherein said air movement unit is capable of providing substantially symmetrical air flow; and   wherein said air movement unit is capable of reversing the direction of said symmetrical air flow through said storage/ripening room.   
     
     
         2 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two operational openings are operably connected to at least one air reversing component, said air reversing component capable of reversibly blocking said at least one operational openings. 
     
     
         3 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two operational openings are operably connected to at least one air reversing component, said air reversing component capable of reversibly blocking said at least two operational openings. 
     
     
         4 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one air reversing component is selected from swing dampers, revolver dampers, louvre dampers, slide dampers, vertical dampers, air ducts, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , said direction of air flow being selected from a normal air flow and a reverse air flow,
 wherein said normal air flow is in a direction flowing from the storage/ripening room walls to the storage/ripening room center; and   wherein said reverse air flow is in a direction flowing from the storage/ripening room center to the storage/ripening room walls.   
     
     
         6 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two operational openings comprise at least one suction side operational opening, at least one blowing side operational opening, at least one suction center operational opening, and at least one blowing center operational opening. 
     
     
         7 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 6 , wherein said direction of air flow is selected from a normal air flow and a reverse air flow,
 wherein said normal air flow flows from the storage/ripening room through said at least one center suction operational openings; and   wherein said reverse air flow flows from the at least one side blowing operational opening.   
     
     
         8 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said air movement unit is located on the roof of said room. 
     
     
         9 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said air movement unit is located at the rear of said room behind a loading space. 
     
     
         10 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said reversing the direction of air flow results from rotation of said heat exchanger and said at least one air fan. 
     
     
         11 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said reversing of air flow results from rotation of a frame comprising said at least one air fan. 
     
     
         12 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said air fans are placed before or behind said heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said air movement unit is operably connected to a loading space of said room by an operational opening selected from vent holes, windows, or combination thereof, wherein said opening is capable of being opened or closed by revolving or sliding of air dampers, thereby reversing the direction of air flow. 
     
     
         14 . A storage/ripening unit comprising
 (a) a storage/ripening room;   (b) an air management unit comprising an air cooler comprising at least one air fan and at least one heat exchanger, said air cooler being capable of being reversed by 180 degrees;   (c) at least two center operational openings connecting said storage/ripening room and said air management unit;   (d) at least four side operational openings connecting said storage/ripening room and said air management unit; and   (e) at least two air reversing components capable of reversibly blocking said center and said side operational openings;   wherein said storage/ripening unit comprises a first configuration of said heat exchanger, said air fan, and said operational openings such that air circulates in a first direction; and   wherein said storage/ripening unit comprises a second configuration of said heat exchanger, said air fan, and said operational openings such that air circulates in a second direction.   
     
     
         15 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 14 , having a first configuration wherein said center operational openings are reversibly closed by said air reversing component, and said side operational openings are reversibly open by said air reversing component, such that the air flow is in a first direction. 
     
     
         16 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 14 , having a second configuration wherein said center operational openings are reversibly open by said air reversing component, and said side operational openings are reversibly closed by said air reversing component, such that the air flow is in a second direction. 
     
     
         17 . A storage/ripening unit according to  claim 14 , wherein said air reversing component is selected from a swing damper, a revolving damper, a louver damper, a slide shutter, a vertical swing shutter, an air duct, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A method of ripening and/or storing product comprising the step of placing said product in a storage/ripening unit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method of ripening and/or storing product according to  claim 18 , wherein said product comprises produce. 
     
     
         20 . A method of ripening and/or storing product according to  claim 18 , wherein said product comprises bananas.