초록 ▼

A disinfestation treatment chamber for treating fruit, flower and vegetable commodities subject to infestation by quarantine pests. The commodities are disinfested so as to meet quarantine restrictions without adversely affecting the quality of the commodity. The commodity is heated inside of the ch

A disinfestation treatment chamber for treating fruit, flower and vegetable commodities subject to infestation by quarantine pests. The commodities are disinfested so as to meet quarantine restrictions without adversely affecting the quality of the commodity. The commodity is heated inside of the chamber in hot air having a relative humidity of 30-85% until the temperature of the commodity exceeds the thermal death point temperature of the target pest but is not so high as to adversely affect the quality of the commodity. The temperature of the commodity is held at this temperature until the pest is killed. The commodity is loaded into the treatment chamber in bins onto a low friction conveyor track system which transports the bins from one end of the chamber to the other. The commodities are treated while they are inside of the treatment chamber. After treatment of the commodities, the bins are unloaded using the low friction conveyor track system out of the opposite end of the treatment chamber. The chamber includes a fan/heat exchanger located inside the treatment chamber and positioned under the commodity bins. The space directly above the fan/heat exchanger is left unobstructed during treatment to enhance the airflow through the commodity bins.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A pest disinfestation chamber comprising:a. a conveyor track confined for transporting bins of fruit or vegetables from a first end of the chamber to a second end of the chamber, the conveyor track coupled to the chamber so as to divide said chamber into upper and lower plenums and

[ We claim:] [1.] A pest disinfestation chamber comprising:a. a conveyor track confined for transporting bins of fruit or vegetables from a first end of the chamber to a second end of the chamber, the conveyor track coupled to the chamber so as to divide said chamber into upper and lower plenums and so as to provide an air seal between the upper and lower plenums; andb. an assembly for heating and circulating air within the chamber, said assembly for heating and circulating air coupled to the chamber and positioned inside of the chamber.