WO2017015770A1

WO2017015770A1 - Harvest and fumigation crate

Info

Publication number: WO2017015770A1
Application number: PCT/CL2016/000038
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mauricio Agustín DAVANZO CARAM
Original assignee: Davanzo Caram Mauricio Agustín
Priority date: 2015-07-27
Filing date: 2016-07-25
Publication date: 2017-02-02

Abstract

The invention relates to a device similar to crates for harvesting fruit trees and table grapes, with the following differences: the sides of the crate are closed but have ventilation openings which can vary in size and quantity, depending on the type of plant product and the type of gas. Another fundamental characteristic is that the harvest and fumigation crate comprises a lid that seals the top of the crate, the lower face of the lid, which is oriented towards the inside of the crate, having disposed thereon an element for containing or supporting a gas generator. In the case of table grapes, the gas generator is a perforated space in which a sheet or sachet that generates SO₂ (sulfurous anhydride) is disposed. The lid that seals the harvest crate transforms same into a small fumigation chamber. On the upper face of the crate and on the lower face of the bottom of the crate are disposed elements, of various designs, which enable crates to interlock when stacked one on top of the other in columns, providing rigidity to the pallet.

Description

HARVEST AND GASIFICATION BOX

The present application is addressed to a harvesting and gasification box, which aims to generate an immediate and continuous gasification process for freshly harvested agricultural products such as; Table grape and blueberries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this device can be used in any agricultural product that requires to be treated with gas.

The device, harvesting and gasification box allows to protect the fruit immediately after it is harvested. Once cut the fruit of the tree is deposited in the box, which once filled, cover and immediately begins a process of gasification inside.

On the other hand, it allows the producer to keep the fruit cold immediately and pack it later, without it deteriorating in the course of storage. Flexibility that does not currently exist.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Chile being the main exporter of table grapes in the world and other fruits; It enjoys a great reputation among the producing and exporting countries of fruit. Chile is also a reference, given that many of the post-harvest conservation techniques have been developed or improved locally.

Currently the export process; It begins with the harvest of the fruit, during which the harvesting staff cuts the fruits of each plant and deposits them in a "harvest box or 3/4 box". Said box is generally plastic, without a lid and with a closed closed bottom but with sides and heads, ventilated or in other words with a large part of its sides and heads with a plastic weft that leaves a large area ventilated or open.

Once the fruit has been cut and deposited in its box, it is waiting to be picked up by a tractor with a trailer that goes through the field picking up the full boxes, in order to take them to the packing or packing sector. Once the fruit is harvested; in the case of table grapes, this happens to a gasification chamber; close to packing, where S02 (Sulfur dioxide) is applied, the only agent approved for the control of the fungus Botritys cinerea pers., the main cause of losses and claims in the export grape. The S02 fulfills several functions; such as eliminating spores and conidia from the fungus but it also sanitizes the open wounds (gateway to other fungi) that the fruit can present and serves as an antioxidant helping to preserve the turgor and green color of the rachis of the cluster (quality element of great importance ). Berries, like blueberries, are treated similarly.

The gasification process consists in leaving the car with the harvest boxes inside the gasification chamber (in some cases they are unloaded and left on the floor in pallets), and then subjected to the gasification process that takes about 20 to 30 minutes between the injection of the gas and its subsequent evacuation, in order to remove the fruit. Once the grape has been gasified, it passes to the packaging process.

Currently all the grapes that are harvested on the day, must be packed that same day, since so far there is no technique that allows it to be stored without deterioration. Therefore companies and producers must choose two alternatives; 1) harvest a defined volume in order to comply with the legal working hours of the packing; which implies that the fruit that remains in the brown will always be exposed to a rain or other climatic problem or simply lose the opportunity to be sent promptly to the destination market. In some markets there are dates of entry of fruit in part of the season, as is the case of the "Marketing Order" in the US. one 2) Since it must be packed immediately, the fruit is packed in a type of packaging, defined for the customer or the market, which makes it impossible in case of market problems, to send it to another destination and therefore must be re-packed, with the consequent extra costs of materials and labor.

The harvesting and gasification box device is a new concept of a harvesting box, which is closed on all sides, with a lid and vents, within which a gas generating element is placed; in the case of table grapes, it corresponds to a "sulphurous anhydride generator" (product available in the market; there are 6 manufacturers in Chile), whether impregnated paper, double phase or any variation thereof.

The advantage of this device; for example in the table grape, it is that the harvested grape, once filled the box and closed, begins to be immediately gasified in the same brown, so it receives immediate protection, in this case, it avoids the process of gasification in chamber and grape can pass directly to the packing, saving the time of gasification in chamber (20 - 30 minutes). The process time factor is very important, not only because of the reduction in costs (when packing more boxes per day) but because of the greater productivity it gives to the packing.

Another advantage is that in case of climatic risk, such as rain, the producer can redouble his harvest efforts by more volume, in order to save more fruit and the futa that cannot be packed can be stored cold for later packing ( inside a chamber); this single fact produces a saving of the point of view of losses of fruit by rain and on the other hand there is a saving in application of chemicals since part of the fruit will no longer remain in the plant and it will not be necessary to apply some chemical product (fungicides) of post-rain protection.

Also the fact that the producer can harvest and store the fruit without packaging and have time to define its packaging, or simply wait for the purchase order to start packing, is an important advantage from the point of view of marketing.

A secondary advantage, no less important, is to avoid exposure of the camera operator, to the gas, while operating it or during its opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1: Perspective views of the harvesting and gasification box (1), cover (2), main body (3) and gas generator (4). Ventilation in the main body of the box, sides and heads (5). On the upper face of the lid there is a groove or groove (6) that is the locking element with the upper case. Cabin (7) of the gas generating element with its vents (8). Stacking detail (9), locking element on the underside of the bottom of the box (10)

Figure 2: Longitudinal (11), transverse (12) and upper (13) and lower (14) section of the lid, the harvesting and gasification box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Figure 1)

The harvesting and gasification box device (1), which can be made of any resistant material, compatible with the gas to be administered and the product to be placed inside; It consists of two main bodies; The lid (2) and the main body of the harvest box (3). Next, the particularities of each of these two parts will be described.

COVER: (2) This part of the harvesting and gasification box has the function of sealing on the upper side of the box and has two features on each of its faces.

Upper Face; you must consider an element (6) that allows stacking several boxes in height, these are locked together; that is to say the upper box with the lower box, in order to give stability to the "pallet" of boxes or in other words to the group of stacked and ordered boxes. The locking system can be in different ways (in the industry there are several obstacle designs) such as; what is shown in figure 1, a groove or groove (6) on the upper face of the lid, where the lower drop of the main body of the box fits immediately above, or simply a flange (which has the lid and also fit with the bottom of the upper case). Both the groove or groove (6) and the flange (depending on the design of the locking element), can go along the entire contour of the lid, as well as partially distributed in some areas of the edges of the lid.

Underside; The bottom face of the lid, once the box is closed, is located in the interior space of the lid. This face has a "passenger compartment" (7) or ventilated space (8), which allows to introduce and contain a gas emitting element; In the example of the table grape, it is called "sulfur dioxide generator" (4) or paper of S02 (widely known in the table grape industry). Said emitting element will emit the gas, which will pass through the vents (8) in order to cover and protect the fruit inside the boxes.

MAIN BODY OF THE HARVEST AND GASIFICATION BOX (3): Unlike the common cashier's box; it has its sides and heads closed; thus giving a degree of tightness to the box, so that the gas inside acts on the fruit or food.

However, to facilitate the movement of gas, avoid damage due to excess gas and to facilitate the cooling of the fruit in the case of being stored in a refrigerator; It is contemplated to use different degrees of ventilation (5), which will depend on the type and variety of fruit, type of gas generator and level of sensitivity of the fruit, mainly.

The ventilation will be given by perforations (in different designs, diameters and quantity), which will allow the movement of the gas and the heat output from the box. These perforations may be located both on the sides and on the heads of the box (5).

The bottom of this device, on the main body, on its lower face, will have an element to facilitate the locking of the box with the box immediately below (10)

Claims

1. Device that consists in being a fruit harvesting box, which has the particularity that it fulfills the function of a gasification chamber. This allows freshly harvested fruit to be gasified or treated continuously; from its point of harvest, during its transport to the packing center or to the storage chamber and until it is packed in its final commercial format. The device is CHARACTERIZED, being formed of two main elements; a cover (2) and a main body (3). Unlike current harvesting boxes, this development has a lid (2). The function of this is to seal the box to allow the gasification process. The lid (2) on its upper face has an element for locking (6), so that several boxes can be stacked at the same time; while on its underside it has a perforated "passenger compartment" (7) where a paper (4) gas generator is inserted or any gas generating device is located. The main body of this box (3) and which differs from the normal harvest box, is due to the fact that it has the bottom, sides and heads closed, and that include vents (5) only on sides and heads. These vents can be of different diameter and in different quantity. The fund is fully closed.

The bottom face of the bottom has a locking element (10) that complements that of the lid (6) and allows a stable stack of several boxes in height.

2. Device having the particularity of being a harvesting and gasification box, of fruits and food, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED, because this same device can be used with different types of gases that fulfill different functions; such as, fungicides, antioxidants, insecticides and / or acaricides, ripening etc. and for different fruits or foods. In the case of table grapes, this is gasified with sulfur dioxide (S02) gas mainly as a fungicide, but it could also be applied as an antioxidant (for the rachis). Thus it could also be used in other fruits or foods with insecticidal gases, for fruits that require quarantine (methyl bromide) or ripening such as ethylene. There is also the potential use of food preservative gases among others.

3. Device having the particularity of being a harvest and gasification box, of fruits and food, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED, for having the alternative of being able to be manufactured with different materials; such as, like High Density Polyethylene, virgin or recycled (PED), PVC, food grade steel or other compatible material, with the product and the gas, with which it will be in contact.

4. Device having the particularity of being a harvesting and gasification box, of fruits and ahments, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED, because its lid (2), on its lower face, has a passenger compartment or elements that allow placing , a gas emitting device. In the case of table grapes, the cabin allows to place a gas generating sheet S02. However, elements that allow the coupling of a gas emitting device can also be considered, not necessarily having to have the sheet shape, as described in Figures 1 and 2.