FR2692234A1 - Sealed transport and store for fresh produce - uses internal container inside external envelope with temperature controlled liquid in cavity between two - Google Patents

Abstract

The store includes an external envelope (1) with insulated sidewalls which includes an access opening. Inside the envelope a sealed container (4) is located. This also has an access opening and it is arranged at a distance from the internal sidewalls of the envelope. A supply provides liquid at a controlled temperature to the space (6) between the envelope and container. A system is also provided to maintain a space inside the container for the introduction of a conserving and stabilising fluid. USE/ADVANTAGE - For fresh produce such as fruit, vegetables, fish or meat products. Can be used on wheeled transport or fixed storage as part of a refrigeration system.

Description

WATERPROOF UNIT FOR TRANSPORT AND / OR STORAGE
FRESH PRODUCTS
The present invention relates to a sealed unit for the transport and / or storage of fresh products such as fruit, vegetables, flowers, meat or non-live fish.

 The object of the invention is to provide a structure suitable for the transport and / or storage of perishable foodstuffs under the best possible conditions of preservation and capable of taking various forms to constitute, for example mobile structures of the container type, mobile structures on wheels, automobile or not, such as truck, semi-trailer, wagon, or fixed structures such as storage rooms on land or on a ship for example, or conservation rooms for communities and restaurants or for individuals, in the latter case, the device according to the invention can be integrated into a range of household appliances and constitute special refrigerators or freezers.

To this end, the invention relates to a sealed unit for the transport and / or storage of fresh products, characterized in that it comprises
- an outer shell with insulating walls
thermally and which is provided with means of access
- a sealed internal box provided with access means and
disposed at a distance from the internal wall of said
envelope
- means for sending and maintaining a fluid to
temperature controlled in the interval between envelope and
box and
- means to create an appropriate vacuum in the box
or maintain a preservation / stabilization fluid there.

 According to one of the applications of the invention, a container made in the form and from a standard structure of a sea, land or air container can be produced.

 It is thus treated exactly like a conventional container and can be transported from door to door. It may possibly be fitted with wheels as well as autonomous means of movement.

 The internal box is mono- or multi-compartment and has a sealed wall in stainless steel or enameled, food plastic or other material authorized to be in contact with food products.

 The means for sending and maintaining a fluid at a controlled temperature in the interval between the outer casing and the inner box can be constituted by an air generator at a controlled temperature, between -50C and + 30C for example.

 Inside the box can be created a suitable vacuum, relatively high, of the order of 10 6 Torr for example, or an atmosphere suitable for ensuring the preservation of products or stabilization, for example an atmosphere of inert gas such than carbon dioxide, or ozone or oxygen absorbing agent.

 In the case of a box with several compartments, the compartments are treated individually and are placed under an appropriate vacuum or else placed under a preservation or stabilization atmosphere.

 It is thus possible to create selective voids or particular atmospheres depending on the nature of the product placed in the compartment.

 The various generator sets of controlled fluid or vacuum as well as their energy sources can be on board, but it is also possible to provide fixed station energy sources connectable to the on-board generators by appropriate sockets and connections.

 The invention can also be implemented in the form of a fixed storage unit or chamber, installed for example on land or on a ship.

 Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which follows of an embodiment of a container according to the invention, description given by way of example only and with reference to the appended drawing in which the single figure shows in a way schematically a transport unit according to the invention produced in the form of a container.

 In this single figure, there is shown at 1 a parallelepiped external envelope of a container according to the invention. Such an envelope 1 is advantageously constituted by a standard structure of sea, land or air container and comprises a reinforced floor 2, corners 3 of ISO type for handling, reinforced walls and a roof, waterproof and thermal insulators, with a system access consisting for example of a double door at one end of the container.

 Since such a structure is standard, although it can take various forms or constitutions, it does not need to be described in more detail.

 Inside the casing 1 is arranged a sealed casing 4 kept at a distance from the internal walls of the casing 1 by a system of suitable spacers 5 allowing the circulation of air or fluid around the casing 4 between the latter and envelope 1.

 The wall of the box 4 is made of any suitable material such as stainless or enamelled steel, food plastic or other material authorized to be in contact with food products.

 Opposite the access system with which the casing 1 is provided, for example in line with one of the end walls equipped with a double door, the box 4 is also provided with an appropriate access device, waterproof.

 The interior of the box 4 is mono- or multi-compartmentalized, the compartment or compartments being for example provided with removable or modular racks or grids, for receiving the fresh products to be transported, packaged and stored appropriately according to their nature.

 The container is, moreover, equipped with a means suitable for sending and maintaining in the interval 6 between the box 4 and the envelope 1 a fluid, for example air, at a controlled temperature, for example between - 5 -5 C and +3 OC. This means can be one or more cold and / or heat generators, for example arranged in a technical unit 7 disposed at the end of the box 4 opposite the access means, this unit being accessible on the external face of the envelope for the technical necessities of operation, control, command, maintenance, even energy supply.

 In addition, the interior of the box 4, when the latter is mono-compartment, is subjected to an appropriate vacuum and / or to an atmosphere for preserving or stabilizing the transported foodstuffs.

 To this end, in the technical unit 7, a vacuum generator is also arranged, such as a vacuum pump actuated by an electric motor, connected to the compartment (s) of the box 4.

In the case of a multi-compartmentalized box, each compartment can be treated individually and be subjected to a vacuum appropriate to the nature of the product placed in the compartment considered. Each compartment could of course be subjected to a high vacuum of the order of, for example, 10
Torr. Instead of the vacuum, a system can be provided which can selectively send into one or more compartments of the box 4, a neutral gas (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, ozone) for preservation or stabilization, in contact with the foodstuffs.

 The container according to the invention can have variable shapes and dimensions depending on the transport conditions. It can be constituted as a conventional container, that is to say a box, or else provided with wheels so as to constitute, for example, a semi-trailer, or even autonomous means of movement so as to constitute a kind of refrigerated truck. .

 Preferably, the means for generating fluid at a controlled temperature and a conservation atmosphere (stabilization) are, with their energy sources, entirely on board the container, but it would also be possible to embark only said generating means, the or the energy sources being arranged in a fixed position, either on land in container reception and transit areas, or on the means of transport of the containers (for example boats, planes, wagons). In this case, the outer wall of the container, in line with the technical unit 7, is provided with the appropriate connection elements.

 Finally, the invention is obviously not limited to the embodiments shown and described above, but on the contrary covers all variants thereof, in particular as regards the shapes and dimensions of the outer casing 1 and the inner casing 4 , the arrangement of the space 6 between envelope and box, the arrangement and the nature of the means for generating vacuum and fluids at temperature or controlled nature, intended for the interior of said box.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + =  1. Watertight unit for the transport and / or storage of fresh products, characterized in that it comprises  - an outer casing (1) whose walls are thermally insulating and which is provided with access means  - a sealed internal box (4) provided with access means and  disposed at a distance from the internal wall of said  envelope (1);  - means for sending and maintaining a fluid to  temperature controlled in the interval (6) between  envelope (1) and box (4) and  - means to create and maintain an appropriate vacuum  in the box (4) or maintain a  conservation / stabilization.  2. Unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal box (4) is mono- or multi-compartment and has a sealed wall made of stainless steel or enamelled, food plastic or other material authorized to be in contact with products food.  3. Unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the or each compartment comprises a system of modular, removable grids or grids.  4. Unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said means for sending and maintaining fluid at a controlled temperature in the interval (6) between envelope (1) and box (4) are constituted by a cold or hot air generator.  5. Unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least part of the compartments of the box (4) is subjected to an atmosphere of inert gas or oxygen absorbing agent.  6. Unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that all of the means for generating fluid at controlled temperature, vacuum or conservation / stabilization atmosphere and their energy sources are on board.  7. Unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the energy sources of the means for generating fluid at controlled temperature, vacuum or atmosphere of conservation / stabilization, are installed at a fixed station, l the unit being provided with appropriate connection means.  8. Unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is produced in the form and from a standard structure of sea, land or air container.  9. Unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is provided with wheels.  10. Unit according to claim 9, characterized in that it is provided with autonomous displacement means.  11. Unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is constituted in the form of a fixed storage chamber.