초록 ▼

Apparatus and the method for directing cool air to stacks of containers holding freshly harvested produce and the like, to remove field heat therefrom. Air is caused to flow in one direction through the containers to cool the produce, then the airflow direction is reversed and the air is caused to f

Apparatus and the method for directing cool air to stacks of containers holding freshly harvested produce and the like, to remove field heat therefrom. Air is caused to flow in one direction through the containers to cool the produce, then the airflow direction is reversed and the air is caused to flow in the opposite direction. In this way, the produce in the container is uinformly cooled. The apparatus includes a housing having a suction fan for blowing air through an air cooler into a plenum from which the cool air passes through the containers. The direction of airflow is selected by moving damper devices relative to the housing.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for cooling produce comprising: a housing having an access opening to allow containers of produce to be placed therein in two rows with the rows being spaced from each other to form a central space and with the rows being spaced from the inner surface of the housing to form two outer space

Apparatus for cooling produce comprising: a housing having an access opening to allow containers of produce to be placed therein in two rows with the rows being spaced from each other to form a central space and with the rows being spaced from the inner surface of the housing to form two outer spaces, the containers having openings therethrough to permit an airflow in heat exchange relationship to the produce in the containers; means for creating an airflow through said housing; and damper means movable from a first position in which the airflow is directed from the central space to the outer spaces in heat exchange relationship to the produce in the containers to a second position in which the airflow is caused to flow from the outer spaces to the central space in heat exchange relationship to the produce, whereby the produce is cooled by the airflow in reverse directions.