Methods, apparatuses, and systems for cooling

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and systems for cooling. Embodiments include a cooling system comprising a mobile container, conveyor system, and sensor feedback system. The container includes at least a first, second, and third section. First section holds at least one pallet containing produce. Second section includes a cooling mechanism to cool the produce within the at least one pallet to an optimal temperature. Third section includes the cooling mechanism to maintain the cooled produce in the at least one pallet at the optimal temperature. Conveyor system may be used to convey the at least one pallet across the cooling system. Sensor feedback system is configured to continuously measure and track at least the weight of the at least one pallet and temperature of the produce within the at least one pallet as the at least one pallet is conveyed across the cooling system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a mobile container including:
 an input opening on a first end of the mobile container; 
 a first divider and a second divider that restrict airflow within an interior of the mobile container and separate the interior of the mobile container into a first room, a second room, and a third room; and 
 an output opening on a second end of the mobile container that is opposite the first end; and 
   wherein the first room is configured for initial cooling of produce located in produce containers, the second room is configured to cool the produce to a specified temperature and includes a first cooling station and a second cooling station, and the third room is configured to maintain the produce at the specified temperature; and   wherein the first cooling station circulates chilled air in a first direction, and the second cooling station circulates chilled air in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first divider is fastened to a first support frame that is attached to the mobile container, and the second divider is fastened to a second support frame that is attached to the mobile container. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first divider extends from a floor of the mobile container to a ceiling of the mobile container, and the second divider extends from the floor of the mobile container to the ceiling of the mobile container to restrict airflow between the first room, the second room, and the third room. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first divider extends from a first wall of the mobile container to a second wall of the mobile container that opposes the first wall, and the second divider extends from the first wall of the mobile container to the second wall of the mobile container that opposes the first wall to restrict airflow between the first room, the second room, and the third room. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second room is defined by a ceiling, a floor, and two walls of the mobile container, and by the first divider and the second divider. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile container is insulated. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first divider and the second divider includes a retractable fabric door. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling station and the second cooling station each include a cooling mechanism attached to the mobile container by a support frame. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile container includes a drain system inside the mobile container that is configured to remove humidity from the mobile container. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the produce is transported through the first room, the second room, and the third room of the mobile container by a conveyor system. 
     
     
         11 . A method of cooling, comprising:
 inserting at least one container into a staging room of a mobile trailer to cool produce in the at least one container;   transporting the at least one container through a first partition of the mobile trailer and into a cooling room, and cooling the produce in the at least one container to a specified temperature; and   transporting the at least one container through a second partition of the mobile trailer and into a discharge room which maintains the produce at the specified temperature;   wherein the cooling room includes a first cooling mechanism that cools the produce by circulating chilled air across the produce in a first direction, and a second cooling mechanism that further cools the produce by circulating chilled air across the produce in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first partition is fastened to a first support frame that is attached to the mobile trailer, and the second partition is fastened to a second support frame that is attached to the mobile trailer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first partition extends from a floor of the mobile trailer to a ceiling of the mobile trailer, and the second partition extends from the floor of the mobile trailer to the ceiling of the mobile trailer to restrict airflow between the staging room, the cooling room, and the discharge room. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first partition extends from a first wall of the mobile trailer to a second wall of the mobile trailer that opposes the first wall, and the second partition extends from the first wall of the mobile trailer to the second wall of the mobile trailer that opposes the first wall to restrict airflow between the staging room, the cooling room, and the discharge room. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling room is defined by a ceiling, a floor, and two walls of the mobile trailer, and by the first partition and the second partition. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile trailer is insulated. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first partition and the second partition includes a retractable fabric door. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first cooling mechanism and the second cooling mechanism are each attached to the mobile trailer by a support frame. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile trailer includes a drain system inside the mobile trailer that is configured to remove humidity from the mobile trailer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the produce is transported through the staging room, the cooling room, and the discharge room of the mobile trailer by a conveyor system. 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a mobile container having an input opening configured to receive produce containers therethrough and an output opening configured to discharge the produce containers therethrough,   wherein the mobile container is insulated and includes:
 a first partition and a second partition that divide the mobile container into a staging room, a cooling room, and a discharge room; and 
 a cooling system located within the cooling room that cools produce in the produce containers to a specified temperature, the cooling system including a first cooling mechanism that circulates chilled air across the produce in a first direction and a second cooling mechanism that circulates chilled air across the produce in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first partition is fastened to a first support frame that is attached to the mobile container, and the second partition is fastened to a second support frame that is attached to the mobile container. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first partition extends from a floor of the mobile container to a ceiling of the mobile container, and the second partition extends from the floor of the mobile container to the ceiling of the mobile container to restrict airflow between the staging room, the cooling room, and the discharge room. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first partition extends from a first wall of the mobile container to a second wall of the mobile container that opposes the first wall, and the second partition extends from the first wall of the mobile container to the second wall of the mobile container that opposes the first wall to restrict airflow between the staging room, the cooling room, and the discharge room. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the cooling room is defined by a ceiling, a floor, and two walls of the mobile container, and by the first partition and the second partition. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile container is insulated. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first partition and the second partition includes a retractable fabric door. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first cooling mechanism and the second cooling mechanism are each attached to the mobile container by a support frame. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile container includes a drain system inside the mobile container that is configured to remove humidity from the mobile container. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the produce is transported through the staging room, the cooling room, and the discharge room of the mobile container by a conveyor system.